Article 110
1. The first paragraph of Article 41 shall apply by analogy to contract staff engaged for a period of not less than one year. 2. A member of the contract staff who has been at one step in his grade for two years shall automatically advance to the next step in that grade. 3. In the case of contract staff, classification in the next higher grade in the same function group shall be by decision of the Agency. It shall be effected by classifying such contract staff in the first step of the next higher grade. Such advancement shall be exclusively by selection from among contract staff with a contract of at least three years who have completed a minimum period of two years in their grade, after consideration of the comparative merits of such contract staff eligible for advancement to a higher grade and of the reports on them. When considering comparative merits, the AACC shall in particular take account of the reports on the members of contract staff, the use of languages in the execution of their duties other than the language for which they have produced evidence of thorough knowledge in accordance with Article 105(3)(e) and, where appropriate, the level of responsibilities exercised by them. 4. A member of the contract staff may change to a higher function group only through participation in a general selection procedure.