Interviews with 320 former ministers in post-communist cabinets in ten Central and East European countries, covering their experiences in the period 1990-2003, confirm that prime ministerial staff are accepted by the majority of cabinet ministers as helpful advisers. Moreover, the degree of administrative and political advice differs substantially across the ten countries. Furthermore, the impact of prime ministerial staff on cabinet decision-making is contingent upon the interests of the prime minister and the structure of party government. Finally, there are still striking differences between the role of prime ministerial staff in Western and Central and Eastern Europe.