A/RES/57/251 should take into account, within its mandate, the sustainable development needs of developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, 1. Takes note of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its seventh special session,1 and the decisions contained therein; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Open-ended Intergovernmental Group of Ministers or Their Representatives on International Environmental Governance for its report as adopted by the Governing Council at its seventh special session;3 3. Recalls the decision made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development4 to fully implement the outcomes of decision SS.VII/1 on international environmental governance adopted by the Governing Council at its seventh special session;1 4. Invites Member States, the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, and the relevant bodies of the United Nations system to submit to the Secretariat their comments on the important but complex issue of establishing universal membership for the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum, including its legal, political, institutional, financial and system-wide implications, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report incorporating those views to the General Assembly for its consideration before its sixtieth session; 5. Reiterates its desire to be informed on the work of the Environmental Management Group; 6. Requests the United Nations Environment Programme, within its mandate, to continue to contribute to sustainable development programmes and the implementation of Agenda 215 at all levels, bearing in mind the mandate of the Commission on Sustainable Development; 7. Reiterates the need for stable, adequate and predictable financial resources for the United Nations Environment Programme, and in this regard and in accordance with resolution 2997 (XXVII) underlines the need to consider adequate reflection of all administrative and management costs of the Programme in the context of the United Nations regular budget; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under review so as to permit the delivery, in an effective manner, of necessary services to the Programme and to other United Nations organs and organizations in Nairobi. 78th plenary meeting 20 December 2002 _______________ 3 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/57/25), annex I, decision SS.VII/1, appendix. 4 See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 140 (d). 5 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3–14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. 2