Madrid's Distinctive Method to Movement from the African Continent

The Spanish government is pursuing a markedly separate course from numerous European countries when it comes to immigration strategies and relations toward the continent of Africa.

While countries like the US, Britain, French Republic and Federal Republic of Germany are reducing their international support allocations, Madrid stays focused to increasing its involvement, though from a modest foundation.

Recent Developments

This week, the Spanish capital has been welcoming an AU-supported "world conference on persons of African origin". The African diaspora summit will examine restorative justice and the creation of a fresh assistance program.

This demonstrates the newest evidence of how Spain's socialist-led government is seeking to deepen and expand its cooperation with the region that lies just a few kilometres to the south, over the Mediterranean crossing.

Strategic Framework

In July International Relations Head José Manuel Albares established a fresh consultative body of prominent intellectual, diplomatic and heritage experts, the majority of them African, to supervise the delivery of the comprehensive Spain-Africa strategy that his administration released at the close of the prior year.

Additional diplomatic missions south of the Sahara, and partnerships in enterprise and education are scheduled.

Movement Regulation

The contrast between Spain's approach and that of others in the West is not just in expenditure but in tone and outlook – and nowhere more so than in handling immigration.

Similar to elsewhere in Europe, Government Leader the Spanish premier is exploring approaches to manage the influx of undocumented migrants.

"In our view, the migratory phenomenon is not only a issue of humanitarian values, mutual support and respect, but also one of reason," the prime minister said.

Over 45,000 people undertook the dangerous ocean journey from Africa's west coast to the island territory of the Canary Islands the previous year. Estimates of those who perished while trying the crossing extend from 1,400 to a overwhelming 10,460.

Workable Approaches

Madrid's government must house new arrivals, process their claims and oversee their integration into broader community, whether short-term or more enduring.

Nonetheless, in terminology distinctly separate from the adversarial communication that emanates from numerous EU governments, the Spanish administration publicly recognizes the hard economic realities on the ground in the West African region that push people to jeopardize their safety in the effort to reach Europe.

Additionally, it strives to move beyond simply denying access to recent entrants. Instead, it is creating innovative options, with a promise to encourage movements of people that are safe, systematic and standardized and "reciprocally advantageous".

Economic Partnerships

During his visit to Mauritania recently, Madrid's representative emphasized the input that migrants make to the Spanish economy.

Madrid's administration finances training schemes for unemployed youth in states like the West African country, notably for unauthorized persons who have been sent back, to help them develop sustainable income sources in their native country.

Furthermore, it increased a "rotational movement" programme that offers persons from the region limited-duration authorizations to enter Spanish territory for limited periods of seasonal work, mostly in cultivation, and then come home.

Strategic Importance

The core principle underlying Madrid's outreach is that the European country, as the EU member state most proximate to the region, has an vital national concern in Africa's progress toward inclusive and sustainable development, and stability and safety.

The core justification might seem evident.

However previous eras had guided the Iberian state down a distinctly separate route.

Besides a limited Mediterranean outposts and a compact tropical possession – currently sovereign Equatorial Guinea – its imperial growth in the historical period had mainly been directed across the Atlantic.

Future Outlook

The cultural dimension encompasses not only advancement of Castilian, with an increased footprint of the Spanish cultural organization, but also initiatives to help the transfer of scholarly educators and researchers.

Security co-operation, action on climate change, women's empowerment and an increased international engagement are predictable aspects in the current climate.

However, the strategy also puts notable focus it allocates for assisting democratic values, the African Union and, in particular, the regional West African group Ecowas.

This represents welcome public encouragement for the entity, which is presently facing significant challenges after witnessing its half-century celebration tainted by the departure of the desert region countries – the West African nation, the West African state and the Nigerien Republic – whose controlling military regimes have declined to adhere with its protocol on democracy and effective leadership.

Meanwhile, in a communication targeted as much at Madrid's domestic audience as its sub-Saharan partners, the external affairs department said "supporting the African diaspora and the fight against racism and immigrant hostility are also crucial objectives".

Eloquent statements of course are only a first step. But in contemporary pessimistic worldwide environment such terminology really does appear distinctive.