Article 44 F1

An official who has been at one step in his grade for two years shall automatically advance to the next step in that grade, unless his performance has been evaluated as unsatisfactory pursuant to the last annual report referred to in Article 43. An official shall advance to the next step in his grade after no later than four years, unless the procedure laid down in Article 51(1) is applied.

If an official is appointed head of unit, director or director-general in the same grade, and provided that his performance has been satisfactory within the meaning of Article 43 during the first nine months following his appointment, he shall retroactively benefit from advancement by one step in that grade at the time the appointment comes into effect. This advancement shall lead to an increase in his basic monthly salary corresponding to the percentage between the first and the second step in each grade. If the increase is less or if the official at that time is already in the last step of his grade, he shall receive an increase in basic salary ensuring the increase between the first and second step until his next promotion comes into effect.