From a Common Principle of Equality to European Antidiscrimination Law

The principle of equality is an important part of the contemporary constitutional law of all European countries. It is therefore a common principle, and was, as such, also integrated in the legal system of the European Communities. However, this common principle of equality was modernized and modified by a series of specific antidiscrimination laws adopted in the European Union, mainly during the past decade. This contribution explores the ways in which those recent antidiscrimination laws have modified the traditional understanding of equality law in Europe and are giving teeth to the abstract principle of equality