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Spain is charting a distinctly different direction from numerous European countries when it comes to immigration strategies and engagement with the African continent.

Although nations including the USA, United Kingdom, French Republic and Germany are reducing their international support allocations, Spain stays focused to enhancing its participation, though from a modest foundation.

Recent Developments

Currently, the Spanish capital has been hosting an continent-endorsed "international gathering on persons of African origin". The Madrid African conference will explore corrective fairness and the creation of a fresh assistance program.

This demonstrates the latest indication of how the Spanish administration is seeking to deepen and diversify its engagement with the region that lies just a short distance to the southern direction, beyond the Gibraltar passage.

Policy Structure

During summer Foreign Minister the Spanish diplomat initiated a recent guidance panel of distinguished academic, diplomatic and heritage experts, over 50 percent of them of African origin, to monitor the implementation of the thorough Spain-Africa strategy that his government released at the close of the prior year.

Fresh consular offices in sub-Saharan regions, and collaborations in commerce and learning are planned.

Immigration Control

The difference between Spain's approach and that of different European countries is not just in funding but in perspective and philosophy – and particularly evident than in addressing population movement.

Like elsewhere in Europe, Administration Head the Spanish premier is seeking methods to contain 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.

Over 45,000 persons made the perilous sea crossing from Africa's west coast to the island territory of the Atlantic islands the previous year. Approximations of those who perished while undertaking the journey vary from 1,400 to a astonishing 10,460.

Workable Approaches

Madrid's government needs to shelter fresh migrants, review their cases and manage their absorption into larger population, whether short-term or more permanent.

Nevertheless, in rhetoric noticeably distinct from the hostile messaging that comes from several Western administrations, the Madrid leadership publicly recognizes the challenging monetary conditions on the region in Western Africa that push people to risk their lives in the attempt to attain EU territory.

And it is trying to move beyond simply denying access to incoming migrants. Rather, it is creating innovative options, with a promise to promote human mobility that are protected, orderly and standardized and "reciprocally advantageous".

Financial Collaboration

On his trip to Mauritania the previous year, the Spanish leader emphasized the contribution that immigrants provide for the Iberian economic system.

The Spanish government supports educational programs for youth without work in nations including the Senegalese Republic, particularly for irregular migrants who have been returned, to support them in establishing workable employment options in their native country.

And it has expanded a "rotational movement" initiative that gives individuals from West Africa temporary permits to enter Spanish territory for limited periods of periodic labor, mostly in cultivation, and then come home.

Geopolitical Relevance

The fundamental premise guiding the Spanish approach is that Spain, as the EU member state most proximate to the mainland, has an crucial domestic priority in the continent's advancement toward comprehensive and lasting growth, and tranquility and protection.

This fundamental reasoning might seem evident.

Yet of course previous eras had guided the Iberian state down a quite different path.

Other than a limited Mediterranean outposts and a minor equatorial territory – today's independent the Gulf of Guinea country – its territorial acquisition in the 16th and 17th Centuries had mostly been oriented overseas.

Prospective Direction

The cultural dimension encompasses not only dissemination of the national tongue, with an expanded presence of the Spanish cultural organization, but also schemes to help the movement of educational instructors and researchers.

Defense collaboration, action on climate change, gender equality and an expanded diplomatic presence are expected elements in the current climate.

However, the strategy also lays very public stress it allocates for backing democratic principles, the African Union and, in especial, the sub-Saharan cooperative body Ecowas.

This constitutes favorable governmental endorsement for the latter, which is currently under severe pressure after seeing its 50th anniversary year tainted by the departure of the Sahelian states – the Sahel country, the West African state and the Nigerien Republic – whose ruling military juntas have chosen not to follow with its standard for political freedom and good governance.

Meanwhile, in a message directed equally toward the national citizenry as its sub-Saharan partners, the foreign ministry said "supporting the African diaspora and the fight against racism and anti-foreigner sentiment are also crucial objectives".

Impressive rhetoric of course are only a initial phase. But in the current negative global atmosphere such discourse really does appear distinctive.