How "Genuine Democracy" of the Council of Europe Influences Political Institutions of the European States

The aims of the paper are to set factors that influence the involvement of the Council of Europe in democracy promoting and to explain the concept of the modern model of European democracy generated with its participation. The including of democracy in the agenda of the CE on the one hand is determined by the need to answer on challenges of the crisis of liberal democracy and on the other hand represents a kind of cover for various forms of intervention of international organization in the sphere of domestic policy of its member-States. Due to a complex organizational structure discussions and operations in the field of democracy are transferring to the level outside the permanent control of the States. However the CE remains a classical instrument for intergovernmental co-operation. It is mainly supporting national efforts to reform political systems. The degree of its penetration in the internal affairs depends on the balance of power in organization, will of member States, the impact of civil society and external pression. General trends are determined by growing cooperation with the European Union. EU countries have an automatic majority voting in the Committee of Ministers. The political engagement of the members of the Parliamentary Assembly prevents the Assembly to be an institution of genuine democracy. The Council of Europe is expanding its cooperation with non-governmental actors, focuses on issues of democracy in the former socialist countries and involves countries that are not its members to various spaces of co-operation. Substantive content of the resolutions and recommendations of the Council of Europe in the field of democracy is determined by double standards. Formal democratic principles are taking in consideration selectively, when it corresponds to the foreign policy interests of the elites of the leading States.