How do local staff contribute to the representation of citizens in the EU?

Members of the European Parliament receive public money to hire personal staff. But what role do these staff play in improving the representation of EU citizens? Drawing on new research, Silje S. L. Hermansen and Andreja Pegan find that the number of staff employed by MEPs in their local constituencies increases significantly in the leadup to European and national elections. This raises important questions about whether these staff are aiding the work of the European Parliament or simply furthering the career ambitions of politicians.