Abstract
This chapter deals with the role that government policies, and especially EU policies, can play in improving agri-food chain relationships. The chapter starts with a review of the main factors that influence agri-food chain relationships, based on the previous chapters of this book, as well as other empirical work. The most important policies, with special emphasis on the Common Agricultural Policy, are analysed in relation to agri-food chain requirements. Other policies relating to food, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), consumers and related topics involving agri-food chains are examined to determine how they can affect relationships along the chain. The policies analysed can directly or indirectly affect agri-food chains and can have macroeconomic or microeconomic objectives. The main issues are separated, for any particular policy, between those directed towards agri-food chain stakeholders, with either horizontal or vertical implications for their relationships, and those that concern competitiveness in agri-food chains. Private and public implications are compared to understand the adequacy of current policies. Finally, propositions are offered for a more integrated policy approach to agri-food chain relationships.