each consisting of three, five or seven Judges, either to undertake certain preparatory inquiries or to adjudicate on particular categories of cases in accordance with rules laid down for these purposes. ( * )

( * ) Second subparagraph as amended by Article 18 AA A/FIN/SWE.

The Court of Justice shall sit in plenary session when a Member State or a Community institution that is a party to the proceedings so requests.

Should the Court of Justice so request, the Council may, acting unanimously, increase the number of Judges and make the necessary adjustments to the second and third paragraphs of this Article and to the second paragraph of Article 167.

Article 166

The Court of Justice shall be assisted by eight Advocates General. However, a ninth Advocate General shall be appointed as from the date of accession until 6 October 2000. ( ** )

( ** ) First subparagraph as amended by Article 20 AA A/FINISWE in the version resulting from Article 11 of AD AA A/FIN/SWE.

It shall be the duty of the Advocate General, acting with complete impartiality and independence, to make, in open court, reasoned submissions on cases brought before the Court of Justice, in order to assist the Court in the performance of the task assigned to it in Article 164.

Should the Court of Justice so request, the Council may, acting unanimously, increase the number of Advocates General and make the necessary adjustments to the third paragraph of Article 167.

Article 167

The Judges and Advocates General shall be chosen from persons whose independence is beyond doubt and who possess the qualifications required for appointment to the highest judicial offices in their respective countries or who are jurisconsults of recognized competence; they shall be appointed by common accord of the governments of the Member States for a term of six years.

Every three years there shall be a partial replacement of the Judges. Eight and seven Judges shall be replaced alternately. ( * )

( * ) Second and third subparagraphs as amended by Article 21 AA A/FIN/SWE in the version resulting from Article 12 of AD AA A/FIN/SWE.

Every three years there shall be a partial replacement of the Advocates General. Four Advocates General shall be replaced on each occasion. ( * )

( * ) Second and third subparagraphs as amended by Article 21 AA A/FIN/SWE in the version resulting from Article 12 of AD AA A/FIN/SWE.

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