Provides an overview of developments in EU anti-discrimination law. Examining discrimination on the grounds of race and sexual orientation, it provides an account of the debate within the institutions and Member States, analysis of relevant case law from the Court of Justice, and coverage of the anti-discrimination directives adopted in 2001.

A survey of national anti-discrimination statutes is presented in order to identify the variety of legal traditions which exist in this field. The diversity of these legal cultures impacts significantly upon the scope for and nature of EU anti- discrimination legislation. The author concludes by reviewing the principle factors which have influenced the evolution of EU anti-discrimination law and applying this to an analysis of the prospects for future development.