Brussels, 27/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - At the press conference following presentation to the European Parliament of the Commission's opinion on the Intergovernmental Conference, Commissioner Michel Barnier said that enhanced cooperation should be able to be organised with at least one third of Member States, i.e. either 9 or 10 States in a Union of 27 or 28. The Commission's proposal thus abolishes the right of veto for "political initiatives" that would make it possible for an avant-garde to move forward on the common course, on justice and CFSP matters as well, but that this solution would not allow anyone to "go backwards" or to "unravel the Community acquis", he added. After noting that all areas must be open to enhanced cooperation, Mr Prodi said the Commission would retain its role as the "engine" of the Union, in this context as well. "From the beginning of my term of office, I have taken this role very seriously. There are several types of engines: internal combustion engines and diesel engines. We are a diesel engine", he added, asserting that it may go less fast and make a lot of noise, but that the Commission "stays on course, reaches its destination and delivers the goods". Mr Barnier stated that enhanced cooperation would operate under the normal Treaty conditions. He added that the Commission has taken up the EP's proposal for the creation of a European prosecutor's office that would deal with all cases of fraud in the Community budget.