text: that, ionin as eof theoverall costsshownintable9.6werecalculated onthebasisofannualsessions. Onedelegation the,refore proposed thattheCommittee shouldrecommend theinclusion oftheword"possibly" before"1987"inparagraph 9.1inordertoallowforthe possibility thattheCommission mightdecidetoholditssessions biennially pursuant toGeneral Assembly resolution 39/217of18December 1984.Other delegations opposed theproposal onthegrounds thatitwouldprejudge thedecision oftheCommission. 183.Somedelegations requested anexplanation ofthenegative rateofrealgrowth of2.4pe[cent,asshownintable9.4.TheExecutive Director oftheUnited Nations CentreonTransnational Corporations ~xplained thatthenegative rateof realgrowthwasduetothedecrease inallocations forconsultants, travelof expertadvisers selected toparticipate inthesessions oftheCommission on Transnational Corporations andrentalandmaintenance ofequipment. 184.Concerning programme element 1.1(Codeofconduct), somedelegations requested information onthestatusandprospects ofworkonthecodeofconduct, the authority underwhichtheprogramme element hadbeenassigned highestpriority, and theutilization oftheresources requested underthatprogramme element. The Executive Director recalled thatsignificant progress hadbeenmadeindrafting the codeandexp~essed hishopethattheforthcoming reconvened special session ofthe Commission wouldleadtoabreakthrough towardsitscompletion. Theresources requested undertheprogramme element, whosehighest priority wassupported byboth CPCatitstwenty-third session andtheCommission, wererequired toprepare documents andsupportactivities related tothenegotiation ofthecode. 185.Concerning programme element 1.2(Illicit payments), onedelegation questioned theexistence ofamandate forthetworeports programmed, andproposed thatthe programme element shouldbeassigned lowestpriority andthattheoutputcitation shouldbechanged toreflect theabsence offinaloutput. Another delegation questioned theinclusion oftheprogramme element intheproposed programme budget, sincethequestion ofillicit payments hadnotbeenincluded intheprovisional agendaforthetwelfth session oftheCommission. 186.Asregards programme element 1.3(International standards ofaccounting and reporting), onedelegation notedthattheCommission hadrecommended thatthe reportoftheIntergovernmental Working GroupofExperts onInternational Standards ofAccounting andReporting shouldbeissuedasasalespublication. 187.Concerning programme element 1.4(Otherarrangements andagreements relating totransnational corporations attheinternational, regional andbilateral levels), onedelegation suggested thatonlyonesalespublication shouldbeproduced under output(ii)andthattheresources thusreleased shouldbeallocated toprogramme element 1.3.~ '1I .l. e For ofthe, f i _k.188.Several delegations askedquestions aboutthecriteria usedbytheCentreto carryoutitscurrent workontransnational corporations, inparticular with reference toprogramme elements 2.1(Transnational corporations andinternational economic relations) and2.13(Analysis ofinformation onindividual transnatinal corporations). Inreply,theExecutive Director saidthat,asregards the rendering oftechnical assistance, thecentrehadprovided assistance todeveloping countries incasesinwhichithadbeenrequested todoso,regardless ofthe country oforiginofthecompanies involved. Asregards corporate profiles inthe context oftheindustry studies undertaken bytheCentr~onthebasisofamandate fromtheCommission onTransnational COrporations, thecentrehadconcentrated on -37-thelargest companies intheindustry involved, allofwhichoriginated inmarket economy countri'2s; theissueofcoverage ofcompanies fromsocialist countries had, therefore, notpresented itselftotheCentre, although State-owned companies of developed market economies hadbeenthesubject ofcorporate profiles. In addition, theExecutive Director notedthatthecomputerized information system maintained bytheCentrecontained information oncompanies thatoriginated inall kindsofeconomies.
analysis: The text appears to be discussing the activities and budget of the United Nations Commission on Transnational Corporations, which focuses on regulating and monitoring the activities of multinational corporations. The topics covered include codes of conduct, illicit payments, international standards of accounting and reporting, and corporate profiles. The text suggests that the Commission is concerned with issues related to economic development, international trade, and corporate governance.