A/RES/50/227
Page 6
27.
To facilitate discussions based on an integrated approach to development
issues, the possibility of choosing a principal theme or themes should be
explored to focus substantive debate under each "cluster" in the agenda
without prejudice to the right of delegations to raise any other specific
issue in the debates.
28.
Consultations should be held at an early stage, in an organizational
session of the Committee, before the start of its general debate, based on
proposals from the bureau for decision, on clustering of the agenda, and,
where possible, themes and focus for these clusters, taking into account the
content of reports presented, as well as on items to be included for
discussion or items for decisions and resolutions without formal debate.
29.
The agenda of the Second Committee is set out in annex II. This is
without prejudice to the current arrangements on the biennialization and
triennialization of items, as decided by the General Assembly in resolution
48/162.
30.
The agenda of the Third Committee is structured in accordance with
General Assembly decision 50/465 of 22 December 1995 (see annex III).
III.
DOCUMENTATION AND RELATED MATTERS
31.
The Secretariat and representatives of the specialized agencies are
requested to provide executive briefings, as appropriate, on the matters to be
covered under the items on the agenda, at least a week prior to the opening of
the General Assembly. The Second Committee should, in accordance with
resolution 48/162, look early in the session into all aspects related to the
improvement of the working methods of the Committee.
32.
There should be greater use of relevant background documents in the
Second Committee such as the World Economic and Social Survey, the Trade and
Development Report, the World Development Report and the World Economic
Outlook; in the preparation of the first two reports, cooperation and
coordination between the Department for Economic and Social Information and
Policy Analysis and the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development should be enhanced to ensure more complementarity between the
reports.
33.
There should be continued improvement of other reports to make them more
concise and action-oriented, by highlighting the critical areas requiring
action by the General Assembly and, as appropriate, by making specific
recommendations. All documentation should be provided within the specified
timetables and page limits and in all official United Nations languages.
Efforts should also continue to be made to have all documentation available in
electronic form, in particular for distribution on the Internet, in a timely
manner and within existing resources.
34.
In order to rationalize and simplify reporting procedures, the Second
and Third Committees shall, at the end of their sessions, while reviewing
their draft programmes of work for the next sessions, consider procedural
decisions regarding requests for reports, including where possible integrated
reports on closely related items, as well as items to be inscribed on the
agendas for the next sessions. This exercise shall be based on the lists of
reports mandated from decisions taken by the present and previous sessions of
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