The Spanish-Dutch non-paper has taken observers by surprise since the two countries are usually on opposing sides of the fiscal debate.

Latest news bulletin | April 25th – Evening

Now playing Next

Latest news bulletin | April 25th – Evening

Port of Baku: the Eurasian trade hub working to expand and accelerate growth

Now playing Next

Port of Baku: the Eurasian trade hub working to accelerate growth

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AZPROMO

A white horse on the loose bolt through the streets of London near Aldwych, on Wednesday April 24, 2024.

Now playing Next

Several military horses run wild in London, injuring four people

FILE - Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions from a US-supplied M777 howitzer in Kherson region, Ukraine, 9 January, 2023.

Now playing Next

Russian forces gain ground in eastern Ukraine

A local resident swims in the flooded street between houses in Orenburg, Russia

Now playing Next

WATCH: Russia and Kazakhstan continue to grapple with floods

Skies over southern Greece turned an orange hue on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

Now playing Next

Athens turns orange as winds carry dust from Sahara desert

Lebanese Armenian holds a flag of Nagorno-Karabakh during a protest outside the Azerbaijani embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023.

Now playing Next

WATCH: Police in Armenia push protesters off road

Women from Syria in a refugee camp, outside of the capital Nicosia, in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017.

Now playing Next

Cyprus overwhelmed as number of refugee arrivals surges

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attends the government session in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022.

Now playing Next

Serbia president sorry for calling Slovenians 'disgusting'

WATCH: Should the Premier League have a salary cap?

Now playing Next

WATCH: Should the Premier League have a salary cap?

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MEDIA CITY

A journalist gives Spanish socialist leader Pedro Sanchez and his wife Begona Gomez leave a polling station during the national elections in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June. 25

Now playing Next

Judge asks for investigation into Spain PM's wife to be suspended

Visitors gather at a book shop during an annual book festival, celebrating Alexander Pushkin's birthday in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 4, 2023.

Now playing Next

Police rumble gang stealing antique books across Europe

Updated: 05/04/2022 - 17:25

Video. Watch: Spain & Netherlands strike surprising alliance on fiscal reform

The two countries want the EU fiscal rules to become more simple, transparent and realistic.

Read full article

More from Economy

Containers are stored in a cargo terminal in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Now playing Next

Experts slash economic growth forecast for 'ailing' Germany

People listen to speeches near the European Commission headquarters, background, during a protest by European trade unions in Brussels, Friday, April 26, 2019.

Now playing Next

Prices and social inequality top issues for European elections: Poll

Containers are pictured in the small harbour in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

Now playing Next

Could a 'Middle Corridor' trade route bypass the Red Sea?

European flags outside the European Commission

Now playing Next

EU growth prospects dim with inflation expected to further retreat

Latest video

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shakes hands with President Sergio Mattarella at 79th anniversary of Liberation Day (Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)

Now playing Next

Italy marks anniveersary of fascist defeat amid TV censorship row

MEPs vote during a plenary session on Strasbourg, France, on April 24, 2024.

Now playing Next

EU Parliament leaders recall term's highs and lows at last sitting

Moulin Rouge

Now playing Next

Moulin Rouge's iconic windmill sails collapse overnight

Roberta Metsola appeals to voters ahead of European Elections: ‘You have a choice’

Now playing Next

the global conversation

‘You have a choice,' says Roberta Metsola ahead of European elections

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech on Europe in the amphitheater of the Sorbonne University, April 25 in Paris. 2024.

Now playing Next

'Europe is mortal': Macron calls for more EU unity and sovereignty

In February, biomolecular engineers at Yonsei University in South Korea successfully integrated animal cells into rice grains in a bid to develop a sustainable future food.

Now playing Next

Would you try this lab-grown pink rice made with bovine cells?

Various of stranded whales and rescuers

Now playing Next

Mass stranding: Over 160 pilot whales beached in Western Australia

Sérgio Godinho in the "hot" times of the 1970s

Now playing Next

Sérgio Godinho's 25 April: From exile in Canada to freedom in Portugal

Drone unit Bakhmut.

Now playing Next

WATCH: Improvised Ukrainian drone unit in Russia-seized Bakhmut

Covered in prayer shawls, Jewish men of the Cohanim Priestly caste participate in a blessing Jerusalem's Old City, Thursday, April 25, 2024.

Now playing Next

Thousands of Jewish worshippers attend priestly blessing ceremony

A view of Hope Hostel one of the locations where the asylum seekers from the U.K. are expected to arrive in the next 10-12 weeks in Kigali, Rwanda, Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Now playing Next

Rwanda's Hope Hostel prepares for migrants from Britain

'Portrait of Fräulein Lieser' by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt prior to an auction

Now playing Next

Lost portrait by Gustav Klimt sold for €30 million at auction

A porter carries tourists luggages outside the main train station in Venice, Italy, Wednesday 24 April 2024

Now playing Next

Venice fines tourists who don’t pay city entrance fee

Young people protest in a march against student precarity on March 21st in Lisbon. They hold carnations, the symbol of the revolution.

Now playing Next

Portugal: 50 years after the revolution, are the carnations wilting?

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife Begona Gomez arrive at 10 Downing Street in London, Dec. 3, 2019. A Spanish judge agreed Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Now playing Next

Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez suspends public duties to 'reflect'

No, this video doesn't show the ICJ condemning Germany in Nicaragua's Gaza 'genocide' case

Now playing Next

No, this video doesn't show the ICJ condemning Germany in Gaza case