22/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - Following its rapporteur, Spanish Socialist Martinez, the European Parliament maintained its amendments to the Council's stance on development cooperation with South Africa. Thus, even though Mr. Nielson had said that, for the Commission it was unacceptable, it requested an increase in the financial package for the 2000-2006 period from 787.5 million euro to 885.5 million.