European Union (EU) anti-discrimination law has developed under a mostly formal, procedural Aristotelian approach to equality, driven by seminal European case law and incorporated into a body of EU non-discrimination directives. The academic literature has criticized this approach as formalistic and static (Formal equality, non-discrimination and European Union (EU) law section). Against this backdrop, this article explores how the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) embraces substantive equality dimensions of non-discrimination. It documents standout cases supporting substantive equality in direct and indirect discrimination (Direct discrimination is less formal than meets the eye and Indirect discrimination is substantive at heart sections). It explores how the CJEU has promoted substantive equality in cases of non-discriminatory differential treatment (Compulsory differential treatment makes formal equality substantive section) and through positive action or discrimination (Positive action can become substantive positive discrimination section). It unearths a wider scope for substantive positive discrimination when constructed as a limitation of, rather than an exception to, formal equality (Substantive positive discrimination can limit formal equality section). It frames the evolution towards substantive equality in the broader fundamental rights context that has become the EU law context, as applied in seminal CJEU cases (Formal anti-discrimination supports and reflects overall substantive equality section). It shows how formal EU equality law has always supported substantive equality and has gradually been mobilized to further substantive equality aims, redefining piecemeal the overarching purpose of EU equality law in the process while increasing concerns of transparency and legitimacy (Conclusion: pragmatism, discretion and legitimacy section).

中文翻译：

---

欧洲法院与欧盟反歧视法中的实质平等进程

欧盟 (EU) 反歧视法是在主要是正式的、程序性的亚里士多德平等方法下发展起来的，受到开创性的欧洲判例法的推动，并被纳入欧盟非歧视指令的主体。学术文献批评这种方法是形式化和静态的（形式平等、非歧视和欧盟 (EU) 法律部分）。在此背景下，本文探讨了欧盟法院 (CJEU) 如何接纳非歧视的实质性平等维度。它记录了支持直接和间接歧视中实质性平等的杰出案例（直接歧视不如表面上那么正式，间接歧视在核心部分是实质性的）。它探讨了欧洲法院如何在非歧视性差别待遇（强制差别待遇使正式平等成为实质性部分）和通过积极行动或歧视（积极行动可以成为实质性积极歧视部分）的情况下促进实质性平等。当被构造为正式平等的限制而不是例外时，它为实质性积极歧视发掘了更广泛的范围（实质性积极歧视可以限制正式平等部分）。它构建了在更广泛的基本权利背景下向实质性平等的演变，该背景已成为欧盟法律背景，适用于开创性的欧洲法院案件（正式反歧视支持并反映整体实质性平等部分）。