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Spain is charting a noticeably unique course from numerous developed states when it comes to immigration strategies and relations toward the African continent.

Whereas states such as the United States, Britain, France and Germany are cutting back their development aid budgets, Madrid remains committed to expanding its participation, even from a modest foundation.

New Initiatives

Recently, the capital city has been accommodating an African Union-backed "international gathering on individuals with African heritage". The Madrid African conference will explore corrective fairness and the establishment of a innovative support mechanism.

This represents the most recent sign of how the Spanish administration is attempting to strengthen and expand its cooperation with the continent that lies just a short distance to the south, over the Mediterranean crossing.

Policy Structure

During summer International Relations Head Madrid's top envoy launched a recent guidance panel of prominent intellectual, international relations and cultural figures, more than half of them African, to oversee the implementation of the thorough Spain-Africa strategy that his leadership unveiled at the end of last year.

New embassies in sub-Saharan regions, and partnerships in business and education are scheduled.

Movement Regulation

The distinction between the Spanish method and that of different European countries is not just in funding but in tone and mindset – and nowhere more so than in handling migration.

Like elsewhere in Europe, Government Leader Madrid's chief executive is looking for ways to contain the entry of irregular arrivals.

"For us, the immigration situation is not only a matter of ethical standards, solidarity and honor, but also one of rationality," the administration head said.

More than 45,000 individuals made the perilous sea crossing from the Atlantic African shore to the Spanish archipelago of the Canary Islands last year. Estimates of those who died while trying the crossing range between 1,400 to a astonishing 10,460.

Workable Approaches

Madrid's government needs to shelter new arrivals, process their claims and oversee their integration into wider society, whether temporary or more permanent.

Nevertheless, in language noticeably distinct from the adversarial communication that originates from many European capitals, the Madrid leadership frankly admits the challenging monetary conditions on the ground in West Africa that push people to endanger themselves in the effort to reach the European continent.

Additionally, it strives to move beyond simply saying "no" to recent entrants. Conversely, it is designing original solutions, with a promise to foster human mobility that are safe, orderly and routine and "jointly profitable".

Financial Collaboration

On his trip to Mauritania last year, the Spanish leader highlighted the participation that immigrants contribute to the national finances.

Madrid's administration finances skill development initiatives for unemployed youth in states like the West African country, notably for unauthorized persons who have been returned, to support them in establishing workable employment options in their native country.

Furthermore, it increased a "circular migration" programme that offers individuals from West Africa temporary permits to arrive in the Iberian nation for limited periods of temporary employment, primarily in farming, and then return.

Policy Significance

The fundamental premise underlying Madrid's outreach is that the European country, as the continental nation closest to the mainland, has an crucial domestic priority in Africa's progress toward inclusive and sustainable development, and tranquility and protection.

This fundamental reasoning might seem evident.

However previous eras had guided Spain down a distinctly separate route.

Besides a few Maghreb footholds and a compact tropical possession – presently autonomous the Central African nation – its territorial acquisition in the 1500s and 1600s had mostly been oriented overseas.

Future Outlook

The cultural dimension encompasses not only dissemination of the national tongue, with an expanded presence of the language promotion body, but also schemes to help the mobility of scholarly educators and investigators.

Protection partnership, action on climate change, gender equality and an increased international engagement are expected elements in contemporary circumstances.

Nonetheless, the strategy also lays very public stress it places on backing democratic principles, the African Union and, in specific, the sub-Saharan cooperative body Ecowas.

This represents positive official support for the latter, which is presently facing significant challenges after seeing its 50th anniversary year marred by the walk-out of the Sahel nations – the Sahel country, the Malian Republic and Niger – whose ruling military juntas have refused to comply with its standard for political freedom and effective leadership.

Meanwhile, in a statement targeted as much at the national citizenry as its African collaborators, the international relations office declared "supporting the African diaspora and the fight against racism and immigrant hostility are also essential focuses".

Impressive rhetoric of course are only a first step. But in today's sour international climate such terminology really does distinguish itself.