Injury prevention in the UK—the European dimension

The UK, the European Union, and child safety policy The European Union (EU) plays an increasingly important part in the everyday lives of people in all its 15 member states. In the UK, we are beginning to realise that what happens in Brussels is as important as what happens in London, Edinburgh, CardiV, or Belfast. This is certainly true of injuries to children. Moreover, the impending constitutional changes within the UK will inevitably have repercussions both for the way that policies are developed in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It will also eVect the relationships of these countries to European institutions. While this section adopts a UK perspective on Europe, we recognise that some or all of the constituent parts of the UK may feel the need to develop their own child safety policies to reflect their distinctive needs.