InterpretationE+W+N.I.
2. In these Regulations—
“Central Authority” has the meaning given by regulation 9(1);
“Contracting State” means a state party to the Convention;
“the Convention” means the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-Operation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children that was signed at The Hague on 19 October 1996(1);
“the Council Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003(2) concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility;
“Department of Justice” means the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland;
“local authority” means—
in relation to England, the council of a county, a metropolitan district, the Council of the Isles of Scilly, a London borough or the Common Council of the City of London, and
in relation to Wales, the council of a county or a county borough;
“member State” means a member State of the European Union which is bound by the Council Regulation;
“Northern Ireland authority” means an authority within the meaning given by Article 2(2) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995(3);
“public authority” means a body whose functions are wholly or mainly of a public nature;
“Welsh family proceedings officer” has the meaning given by section 35 of the Children Act 2004(4).