ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 429

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 63
11 December 2020

Contents

page

I   Resolutions, recommendations and opinions

OPINIONS

European Economic and Social Committee

554th plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee, 16.9.2020-18.9.2020

2020/C 429/01

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘The digital single market – trends and opportunities for SMEs’ (own-initiative opinion)

1

2020/C 429/02

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Effective and coordinated EU measures to combat tax fraud, tax avoidance, money laundering and tax havens’ (Own-initiative opinion)

6

2020/C 429/03

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘The rule of law and its impact on economic growth’ (Own-initiative opinion)

16

2020/C 429/04

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘The protection of unaccompanied minors in Europe’ (own-initiative opinion)

24

2020/C 429/05

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Public procurement as a tool to create value and dignity in work in cleaning and facility services’ (own-initiative opinion)

30

2020/C 429/06

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Digital Mining in Europe: New solutions for the sustainable production of raw materials’ (own-initiative opinion)

37

2020/C 429/07

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Towards structured youth engagement on climate and sustainability in the EU decision-making process’ (own-initiative opinion)

44

2020/C 429/08

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Towards an EU strategy on sustainable consumption’ (own-initiative opinion)

51

2020/C 429/09

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘An integrated approach for the EU’s rural areas, with particular emphasis on vulnerable regions’ (Own-initiative opinion)

60

2020/C 429/10

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Compatibility of EU trade policy with the European Green Deal’ (own-initiative opinion)

66

2020/C 429/11

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Energy: women as equal players in the 21st century’ (own-initiative opinion)

77

2020/C 429/12

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Between a trans-European super grid and local energy islands – the right mix of decentralised solutions and centralised structures for an economically, socially and ecologically sustainable energy transition’ (own-initiative opinion)

85

2020/C 429/13

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Universal access to housing that is decent, sustainable and affordable over the long term’ (own-initiative opinion)

93

2020/C 429/14

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘The future of EU air transport in and after the Corona crisis’ (own-initiative opinion)

99

2020/C 429/15

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘EU and Africa: Making an equal development partnership a reality based on sustainability and common values’ (own-initiative opinion)

105

2020/C 429/16

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Contribution of civil society to the Green Agenda and Sustainable Development of the Western Balkans as part of the EU accession process’ (own-initiative opinion)

114

2020/C 429/17

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Carbon markets: Emergence, structuring and challenges for European industry’ (own-initiative opinion)

122

2020/C 429/18

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Strengthening non-profit social enterprises as an essential pillar of a socially equitable Europe’ (exploratory opinion)

131

2020/C 429/19

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Mandatory due Diligence’ (exploratory opinion)

136

2020/C 429/20

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Revision of the Territorial Agenda of the EU, the Leipzig Charter and the Urban Agenda for the EU’ (exploratory opinion requested by the German Presidency)

145

2020/C 429/21

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘The role of EU structural and cohesion policy in driving forward the transformation of the economy in an innovative and smart manner’ (exploratory opinion)

153

2020/C 429/22

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Decent minimum wages across Europe’ (exploratory opinion requested by the European Parliament/Council)

159

2020/C 429/23

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Fair work in the platform economy’ (Exploratory opinion at the request of the German Presidency)

173

2020/C 429/24

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Digitalisation and Sustainability – status quo and need for action from a civil society perspective’ (exploratory opinion)

187

2020/C 429/25

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Sustainable supply chains and decent work in international trade’ (exploratory opinion)

197

III   Preparatory acts

European Economic and Social Committee

554th plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee, 16.9.2020-18.9.2020

2020/C 429/26

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – An SME Strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe’(COM(2020) 103 final)

210

2020/C 429/27

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions –Tourism and transport in 2020 and beyond’(COM(2020) 550 final)

219

2020/C 429/28

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Central Bank, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – Economic governance review – Report on the application of Regulations (EU) No 1173/2011, 1174/2011, 1175/2011, 1176/2011, 1177/2011, 472/2013 and 473/2013 and on the suitability of Council Directive 2011/85/EU’(COM(2020) 55 final)

227

2020/C 429/29

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Amended proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum and Migration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Border Management and Visa Instrument’(COM(2020) 450 final – 2018/0196 (COD)) and on ‘Amended proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund’(COM(2020) 452 final – 2018/0197 (COD))

236

2020/C 429/30

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the public sector loan facility under the Just Transition Mechanism’(COM(2020) 453 final – 2020/0100 (COD)) and on ‘Amended proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Just Transition Fund’(COM(2020) 460 final – 2020/0006 (COD))

240

2020/C 429/31

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Amended proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)’(COM(2020) 447 – 2018-206-COD)

245

2020/C 429/32

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a Programme for the Union's action in the field of health for the period 2021-2027 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 282/2014 (“EU4Health Programme”)’(COM(2020) 405 final – 2020/0102 (COD))

251

2020/C 429/33

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 – Bringing nature back into our lives’(COM(2020) 380 final)

259

2020/C 429/34

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – A From Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system’(COM(2020) 381)

268

2020/C 429/35

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Decision 2003/17/EC as regards the equivalence of field inspections carried out in Ukraine on cereal seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of cereal seed produced in Ukraine’(COM(2020) 137 final – 2020/0053 (COD))

276

2020/C 429/36

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/833 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 laying down conservation and enforcement measures applicable in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation’(COM(2020) 215 final – 2020/95(COD))

279

2020/C 429/37

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – Secure 5G deployment in the EU – Implementing the EU toolbox’(COM(2020) 50 final)

281

2020/C 429/38

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – A European strategy for data’(COM(2020) 66 final)

290

2020/C 429/39

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council empowering France to negotiate an agreement supplementing its existing bilateral Treaty with the United Kingdom concerning the construction and operation by private concessionaires of a Channel Fixed Link’(COM(2020) 622 final – 2020/0160 (COD))

296

2020/C 429/40

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive (EU) 2016/798, as regards the application of railway safety and interoperability rules within the Channel Fixed Link (COM(2020) 623 final – 2020/0161 (COD))

297