Article 1 
1. The Commission is hereby authorised to open negotiations, on behalf of the Union, as regards matters falling within the Union’s competence, as defined by the Treaties, and in respect of which the Union has adopted rules, for a comprehensive international convention on countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes. 2. The negotiations shall be conducted on the basis of the negotiating directives of the Council set out in the addendum to this Decision which may be revised and further developed as appropriate depending on the evolution of the negotiations.
Article 2 
The negotiations shall be conducted in consultation with the Working Party on Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters, which is hereby designated as the special committee within the meaning of Article 218(4) TFEU. The Commission shall regularly report to the special committee referred to in the first subparagraph on the steps undertaken pursuant to this Decision and consult it on a regular basis. Whenever so requested by the Council, the Commission shall report to it on the conduct and the outcome of the negotiations, including in writing. To the extent that the subject matter of the negotiations falls within the competences of both the Union and its Member States, the Commission and the Member States shall cooperate closely during the negotiating process, with a view to ensuring unity in the international representation of the Union and its Member States.
Article 3 
This Decision and its addendum shall be made public immediately after their adoption.
Article 4 
This Decision is addressed to the Commission.