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Madrid is adopting a markedly separate course from numerous Western nations when it comes to migration policies and relations toward the African continent.

While states such as the United States, United Kingdom, French Republic and Germany are slashing their foreign assistance funding, the Spanish government remains committed to expanding its participation, albeit from a reduced baseline.

Recent Developments

Currently, the Spanish capital has been hosting an African Union-backed "world conference on people of African descent". The Madrid African conference will discuss restorative justice and the establishment of a innovative support mechanism.

This constitutes the most recent sign of how Madrid's leadership is working to enhance and diversify its engagement with the continent that lies just a brief span to the southern direction, across the Straits of Gibraltar.

Governmental Approach

During summer International Relations Head the Spanish diplomat established a new advisory council of distinguished academic, foreign service and cultural figures, more than half of them of African origin, to oversee the execution of the detailed Madrid-Africa plan that his administration unveiled at the close of the prior year.

Fresh consular offices below the Sahara desert, and collaborations in commerce and education are arranged.

Movement Regulation

The contrast between Madrid's strategy and that of different European countries is not just in spending but in tone and outlook – and nowhere more so than in handling population movement.

Similar to other European locations, Government Leader the Spanish premier is looking for ways to manage the entry of irregular arrivals.

"From our perspective, the migratory phenomenon is not only a issue of humanitarian values, mutual support and respect, but also one of rationality," the government leader commented.

More than 45,000 persons undertook the dangerous ocean journey from the Atlantic African shore to the island territory of the Canary Islands the previous year. Calculations of those who lost their lives while making the attempt extend from 1,400 to a staggering 10,460.

Effective Measures

The Spanish administration needs to shelter new arrivals, review their cases and oversee their integration into wider society, whether transient or more permanent.

Nonetheless, in terminology distinctly separate from the confrontational statements that comes from numerous EU governments, the Sanchez government publicly recognizes the hard economic realities on the territory in Western Africa that compel individuals to jeopardize their safety in the effort to reach Europe.

And it is trying to exceed simply refusing entry to new arrivals. Conversely, it is developing creative alternatives, with a pledge to promote population flows that are safe, organized and routine and "mutually beneficial".

Economic Partnerships

During his visit to the West African nation the previous year, the Spanish leader stressed the contribution that migrants provide for the national finances.

Spain's leadership supports skill development initiatives for jobless young people in nations including the Senegalese Republic, notably for irregular migrants who have been sent back, to support them in establishing workable employment options back home.

And it has expanded a "rotational movement" initiative that provides West Africans limited-duration authorizations to come to Spain for defined timeframes of temporary employment, mainly in agriculture, and then come home.

Policy Significance

The basic concept guiding Spain's engagement is that the Iberian nation, as the EU member state nearest to the mainland, has an essential self interest in the continent's advancement toward equitable and enduring progress, and peace and security.

The core justification might seem apparent.

Nevertheless the past had directed the Iberian state down a distinctly separate route.

Apart from a several North African presences and a minor equatorial territory – currently sovereign the Gulf of Guinea country – its imperial growth in the historical period had mostly been oriented toward the Americas.

Forward Vision

The cultural dimension incorporates not only advancement of Castilian, with an enhanced representation of the language promotion body, but also programmes to support the movement of scholarly educators and investigators.

Security co-operation, action on climate change, gender equality and an increased international engagement are unsurprising components in the current climate.

Nevertheless, the strategy also lays very public stress it places on supporting democratic ideas, the continental organization and, in especial, the sub-Saharan cooperative body Ecowas.

This represents welcome public encouragement for the latter, which is presently facing significant challenges after witnessing its half-century celebration tainted by the departure of the Sahel nations – the Sahel country, the West African state and the Nigerien Republic – whose ruling military juntas have declined to adhere with its standard for political freedom and proper administration.

Simultaneously, in a communication directed equally toward the national citizenry as its sub-Saharan partners, the international relations office declared "supporting the African diaspora and the struggle versus discrimination and immigrant hostility are also key priorities".

Eloquent statements of course are only a beginning stage. But in the current negative global atmosphere such language really does stand out.