ABSTRACT
This chapter explains that intergovernmentalism and supranationalism are heuristically different, and that they are a prerequisite for each other. The 'paradox of Lisbon' is, therefore, one of confusion about the trends in integration. Lisbon started out as a reinforcement of supranationalism but seemed to have strengthened supranationalism. The Lisbon Treaty communautarized parts of the former third pillar in Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) but also implied that the Commission's right of initiative is now shared with one quarter of the Member States. The concept perspective may help to understand how supranationalism is moving forwards intertwined with multilevel adaptations. The chapter reviews some of the literature and highlights how European integration is often perceived as a process that can be rated on a 'scale', implying often a trade-off between supranationalism and intergovernmentalism. It shows how the EU's political and administrative system depends on each other's capacities at the shop-floor of everyday policy processes.
