Spain's Distinctive Strategy to Movement from the African Continent

The Spanish government is pursuing a noticeably unique path from numerous Western nations when it comes to immigration strategies and engagement with the African mainland.

Whereas nations including the US, United Kingdom, France and Federal Republic of Germany are reducing their foreign assistance funding, the Spanish government stays focused to expanding its involvement, though from a lower starting point.

New Initiatives

Recently, the capital city has been welcoming an continent-endorsed "international gathering on people of African descent". The Madrid African conference will examine restorative justice and the formation of a innovative support mechanism.

This represents the latest indication of how Madrid's leadership is seeking to deepen and broaden its involvement with the region that rests only a few kilometres to the southern direction, beyond the Gibraltar passage.

Policy Structure

This past summer International Relations Head Madrid's top envoy launched a fresh consultative body of renowned scholarly, foreign service and cultural figures, over 50 percent of them African, to supervise the execution of the thorough Spanish-African initiative that his government unveiled at the conclusion of the previous year.

Fresh consular offices in sub-Saharan regions, and partnerships in business and academic are scheduled.

Migration Management

The difference between Spain's approach and that of different European countries is not just in spending but in attitude and mindset – and especially noticeable than in dealing with migration.

Similar to other European locations, Administration Head the Spanish premier is seeking methods to control the arrival of irregular arrivals.

"In our view, the immigration situation is not only a matter of ethical standards, mutual support and honor, but also one of rationality," the prime minister said.

More than 45,000 persons undertook the dangerous ocean journey from West African coastline to the island territory of the Canaries last year. Approximations of those who lost their lives while making the attempt extend from 1,400 to a staggering 10,460.

Workable Approaches

The Spanish administration must house fresh migrants, review their cases and oversee their integration into broader community, whether transient or more enduring.

However, in terminology noticeably distinct from the adversarial communication that comes from many European capitals, the Spanish administration openly acknowledges the difficult financial circumstances on the region in Western Africa that push people to risk their lives in the attempt to attain EU territory.

Furthermore, it attempts to move beyond simply denying access to new arrivals. Conversely, it is creating innovative options, with a pledge to foster movements of people that are secure, organized and regular and "mutually beneficial".

Commercial Cooperation

On his trip to Mauritania the previous year, Madrid's representative stressed the participation that migrants contribute to the national finances.

The Spanish government funds training schemes for unemployed youth in countries such as Senegal, notably for irregular migrants who have been repatriated, to support them in establishing sustainable income sources back home.

Additionally, it enlarged a "cyclical relocation" initiative that gives West Africans temporary permits to arrive in the Iberian nation for defined timeframes of periodic labor, mostly in cultivation, and then come home.

Geopolitical Relevance

The fundamental premise supporting Spain's engagement is that Spain, as the EU member state nearest to the continent, has an crucial domestic priority in Africa's progress toward equitable and enduring progress, and tranquility and protection.

The core justification might seem obvious.

Yet of course history had taken Spain down a distinctly separate route.

Other than a several North African presences and a minor equatorial territory – today's independent Equatorial Guinea – its colonial expansion in the historical period had mainly been directed toward the Americas.

Prospective Direction

The heritage aspect incorporates not only dissemination of the national tongue, with an enhanced representation of the Cervantes Institute, but also programmes to support the mobility of academic teachers and researchers.

Protection partnership, action on climate change, women's empowerment and an increased international engagement are expected elements in contemporary circumstances.

However, the plan also puts notable focus it assigns to supporting democratic ideas, the African Union and, in particular, the West African regional organization Ecowas.

This represents welcome public encouragement for the entity, which is presently facing significant challenges after observing its five-decade milestone marred by the walk-out of the Sahelian states – Burkina Faso, the Malian Republic and the Nigerien Republic – whose controlling military regimes have chosen not to follow with its protocol on democracy and good governance.

Meanwhile, in a statement aimed similarly at Madrid's domestic audience as its continental allies, the foreign ministry declared "assisting the African community abroad and the battle against prejudice and xenophobia are also essential focuses".

Fine words of course are only a beginning stage. But in the current negative global atmosphere such language really does appear distinctive.