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The Spanish government is pursuing a noticeably unique direction from numerous European countries when it comes to immigration strategies and engagement with the African continent.

Although states such as the USA, UK, French Republic and Germany are reducing their development aid budgets, the Spanish government remains committed to expanding its participation, albeit from a modest foundation.

Current Programs

This week, the Spanish capital has been accommodating an continent-endorsed "world conference on individuals with African heritage". The Madrid African conference will examine restorative justice and the establishment of a new development fund.

This constitutes the newest evidence of how the Spanish administration is attempting to strengthen and expand its cooperation with the region that lies just a brief span to the south, across the Straits of Gibraltar.

Strategic Framework

During summer Foreign Minister the Spanish diplomat launched a new advisory council of prominent intellectual, diplomatic and heritage experts, the majority of them African, to oversee the delivery of the thorough Spanish-African initiative that his administration published at the close of the prior year.

Additional diplomatic missions in sub-Saharan regions, and collaborations in commerce and learning are arranged.

Movement Regulation

The distinction between Spain's approach and that of others in the West is not just in spending but in perspective and mindset – and especially noticeable than in handling immigration.

Comparable with elsewhere in Europe, Government Leader Pedro Sanchez is looking for ways to control the arrival of irregular arrivals.

"From our perspective, the immigration situation is not only a matter of ethical standards, mutual support and dignity, but also one of reason," the government leader stated.

Over 45,000 persons undertook the dangerous ocean journey from West African coastline to the Spanish archipelago of the Canaries the previous year. Estimates of those who died while making the attempt range between 1,400 to a overwhelming 10,460.

Workable Approaches

The Spanish administration needs to shelter recent entrants, evaluate their applications and handle their incorporation into broader community, whether temporary or more permanent.

Nevertheless, in terminology noticeably distinct from the confrontational statements that comes from numerous EU governments, the Madrid leadership publicly recognizes the challenging monetary conditions on the ground in the West African region that push people to jeopardize their safety in the endeavor to achieve Europe.

And it is trying to transcend simply denying access to incoming migrants. Rather, it is designing original solutions, with a promise to promote human mobility that are secure, systematic and regular and "reciprocally advantageous".

Economic Partnerships

On his trip to the Mauritanian Republic the previous year, Sanchez highlighted the participation that immigrants contribute to the Iberian economic system.

Madrid's administration supports skill development initiatives for unemployed youth in countries such as the Senegalese Republic, notably for unauthorized persons who have been sent back, to help them develop sustainable income sources in their homeland.

Additionally, it enlarged a "rotational movement" initiative that gives individuals from West Africa short-term visas to arrive in the Iberian nation for restricted durations of periodic labor, primarily in farming, and then go back.

Policy Significance

The core principle guiding Madrid's outreach is that the European country, as the European country closest to the region, has an essential self interest in the region's development toward equitable and enduring progress, and stability and safety.

The core justification might seem evident.

However previous eras had guided Spain down a quite different path.

Apart from a several North African presences and a compact tropical possession – currently sovereign the Gulf of Guinea country – its colonial expansion in the 1500s and 1600s had mostly been oriented overseas.

Future Outlook

The cultural dimension encompasses not only promotion of the Spanish language, with an enhanced representation of the Spanish cultural organization, but also schemes to help the transfer of scholarly educators and researchers.

Defense collaboration, action on climate change, women's empowerment and an increased international engagement are expected elements in today's environment.

Nonetheless, the strategy also lays very public stress it places on backing democratic principles, the African Union and, in especial, the West African regional organization the Economic Community of West African States.

This constitutes favorable governmental endorsement for the entity, which is presently facing significant challenges after witnessing its half-century celebration spoiled by the departure of the Sahelian states – the Sahel country, Mali and the Nigerien Republic – whose governing armed forces have refused to comply with its standard for political freedom and effective leadership.

Concurrently, in a message aimed similarly at the national citizenry as its African collaborators, the external affairs department declared "assisting the African community abroad and the struggle versus discrimination and immigrant hostility are also essential focuses".

Impressive rhetoric of course are only a first step. But in the current negative global atmosphere such terminology really does distinguish itself.