Following a decision taken by the General Assembly under the terms of resolution 1166 (XII) that the United Nations Refugee Fund (UNREF) programme be discontinued after 31 December 1958, the UNREF Executive Committee was replaced, as from 1 January 1959, by an Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme. The Executive Committee currently holds one annual session in Geneva, in the autumn, (until 1967 two sessions were held per year) to approve the material assistance programmes for the next calendar year and to set the financial target needed to implement them. The Executive Committee also reviews the use of the Emergency Fund and the administration of Special Trust Funds, and advises the High Commissioner in the exercise of his functions under the Statute of his Office. It is assisted in the execution of its functions by the Sub-Committee of the Whole on International Protection and the Sub-Committee on Administrative and Financial Matters. In accordance with the terms of reference contained in paragraph 5 of resolution 1166 (XII), the Executive Committee was to consist of representatives from 20-25 States, members either of the United Nations or of one of its specialized agencies, to be elected by ECOSOC on the widest possible geographical basis fromthose States with a demonstrated interest in and devotion to the solution of the refugee problem. In 1963, the Committee's membership was expanded to30 in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1958 (XVIII), and to 31 in 1967 under resolution 2294 (XXII). In 1978, ECOSOC recommended in its resolution 1978/36 that the General Assembly increase the membership of the Executive Committee by up to nine additional members from States with an interest in the refugee problem. Consequently, the General Assembly adopted resolution 33/25 mandating the election of the additional members by the Council (ECOSOC resolution 1979/52). Membership in the Committee rose to 41 in 1982 (ECOSOC decision 1982/110 at the request of the General Assembly - resolution 36/121D), and to 43 in 1988 (ECOSOC decision 1988/150) following a request from the General Assembly (resolution 42/130). At its thirty-ninth session, in 1988, the Executive Committee decided to open sessions of its two Sub/Committees and Informal Meeting to participation as Observers by States members of the United Nations and its specialized agencies who are not members of the Executive Committee and invited those interested to submit an application. UNHCR activities within the framework of General Programmes have been reported to the Executive Committee from its inception. Since the Committee's twenty-fifth session, held in 1974, the High Commissioner has reported to the Executive Committee on his Special Programmes in the same manneras he reports on other activities financed under General Programmes.