programnes designed to bring about fundamental changes to improve the well-being of their populations. The adoption of those programmes has often required political courage on the part of the societies concerned. The international community must stand ready to support those efforts, which are designed to bring about sustainable development. That support is particularly crucial to the efforts of the least developed countries in their implementation of effective development policies. The most dramatic evidence of the process of reform has been the series of events that have transformed the countries of Central and Eastern Europe over the past year. Those countries have surged forward in a sweeping process of radical. change. They have set out to renodel their societies. The process of change envisages the removal of arbitrary State interference in all critical social and economic areas of the life of the citizen. Furthermore, those events have occurred JB/2 A/S-18/PV. 2 4 (Mr. Collins, Ireland) in the context of a significant reduction of the political tension~ between East and West that corroded international life for over 40 years. In the context of the dynamic processes that have emerged, what type of objective should we set out to achieve in oor work at the special session? In the first instance, we must affirm that our primary objective is to bring about the revitalization of economic gro.-1th and development, particularly in the developing countries. We have no hesitatioo in asserting that it is the situation of the people of the developing countries, up to one billion of whom live in absolute poverty, that gives rise to our most seriots concern. The Twelve reaffirm that they will, in view of the huge development tasks ahead, continue to provide substantial concessional support to the developing countries. The European 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the revitalization of economic growth and development, particularly in developing countries, and the role of international support in achieving this goal. It highlights the need to address poverty and provides reassurances of continued support from the European Community. The text does not mention specific sectors like agriculture, industry, or transport, but rather focuses on the broader issue of economic development.

**Category**
Economic development