Contract agents, also known as ‘contract staff’, are employees of EU institutions in grades FGI to FGIV. This is a separate category of employees of EU institutions that are usually hired for time-limited contracts of up to six years to address the lack of officials in AD and AST positions and save EU budget funds.

Contract agents can perform a wide variety of tasks at an EU institution, ranging from administrative and manual support to involvement in support to policy making and implementation. FGI – Manual and administrative support service tasks, performed under the supervision of officials or temporary staff; FGII – Clerical and secretarial tasks, office management and other equivalent tasks, performed under the supervision of officials or temporary staff; FGIII – Executive tasks, drafting, accountancy and other equivalent technical tasks, performed under the supervision of officials or temporary staff; FGIV – Administrative, advisory, linguistic and equivalent technical tasks, performed under the supervision of officials or temporary staff.

Becoming a ‘Contract agent’ is a common career path to attaining an AD or AST contract, as it gives a possibility to learn about an institution and later effectively participate in competitions for better-paid vacancies.

Read more about Contract agents. Articles about salaries of EU staff in grades FGI, FGII, FGIII and FGIV.