Article 1 
1. The Commission is hereby authorised to open negotiations, on behalf of the Union, for a broad package of measures related to bilateral relations with the Swiss Confederation, comprising of: — institutional provisions in, and, where necessary, specific adaptations to, bilateral agreements; — an agreement on Switzerland’s participation in Union programmes; — a legally binding mechanism to provide for mutually agreed and fair financial contributions by Switzerland towards reducing economic and social disparities between regions; and — provisions on Switzerland’s financial contribution for its access and use of certain Union information systems. 2. The negotiations shall be conducted on the basis of the negotiating directives of the Council set out in the addendum to this Decision.
Article 2 
The negotiations shall be conducted in consultation with the Working Party on the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), acting as special committee in accordance with Article 218(4) TFEU, and on the basis of the directives set out in the addendum to this Decision.
Article 3 
This Decision replaces and repeals Council Decision of 6 May 2014 authorising the opening of negotiations on an agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on an institutional framework governing bilateral relations.
Article 4 
The Decision is addressed to the Commission.