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Madrid is adopting a distinctly different path from many developed states when it comes to immigration strategies and relations toward the continent of Africa.

Whereas countries like the US, UK, France and Federal Republic of Germany are reducing their foreign assistance funding, Madrid stays focused to enhancing its involvement, even from a modest foundation.

New Initiatives

Currently, the Madrid has been welcoming an continent-endorsed "international gathering on individuals with African heritage". The Madrid African conference will examine corrective fairness and the establishment of a innovative support mechanism.

This represents the newest evidence of how Madrid's leadership is working to enhance and broaden its involvement with the continent that sits merely a short distance to the south, across the Straits of Gibraltar.

Strategic Framework

During summer International Relations Head José Manuel Albares established a recent guidance panel of distinguished academic, foreign service and arts representatives, more than half of them from Africa, to oversee the implementation of the thorough Spain-Africa strategy that his administration unveiled at the end of last year.

Fresh consular offices below the Sahara desert, and cooperative ventures in enterprise and academic are arranged.

Migration Management

The contrast between Madrid's strategy and that of different European countries is not just in expenditure but in perspective and philosophy – and particularly evident than in handling population movement.

Like other European locations, Government Leader Madrid's chief executive is looking for ways to control the arrival of undocumented migrants.

"From our perspective, the migratory phenomenon is not only a question of moral principles, unity and respect, but also one of rationality," the prime minister stated.

Over 45,000 individuals undertook the dangerous ocean journey from West African coastline to the overseas region of the Canaries recently. Approximations of those who lost their lives while undertaking the journey vary from 1,400 to a overwhelming 10,460.

Effective Measures

Spain's leadership has to accommodate new arrivals, review their cases and oversee their integration into broader community, whether transient or more enduring.

Nonetheless, in terminology noticeably distinct from the hostile messaging that originates from numerous EU governments, the Sanchez government frankly admits the hard economic realities on the territory in the West African region that compel individuals to endanger themselves in the attempt to attain the European continent.

And it is trying to transcend simply refusing entry to incoming migrants. Conversely, it is creating innovative options, with a promise to foster movements of people that are protected, systematic and routine and "mutually beneficial".

Commercial Cooperation

While traveling to the Mauritanian Republic the previous year, the Spanish leader emphasized the input that immigrants contribute to the national finances.

Madrid's administration funds training schemes for youth without work in states like the West African country, particularly for unauthorized persons who have been returned, to support them in establishing viable new livelihoods in their native country.

Additionally, it enlarged a "circular migration" scheme that gives individuals from West Africa temporary permits to come to Spain for limited periods of temporary employment, mostly in cultivation, and then return.

Geopolitical Relevance

The fundamental premise underlying Spain's engagement is that Spain, as the EU member state most proximate to the region, has an essential self interest in Africa's progress toward comprehensive and lasting growth, and peace and security.

The core justification might seem evident.

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

Apart from a limited Mediterranean outposts and a minor equatorial territory – today's independent Equatorial Guinea – its colonial expansion in the 1500s and 1600s had primarily been focused overseas.

Forward Vision

The cultural dimension incorporates not only promotion of the Spanish language, with an enhanced representation of the language promotion body, but also initiatives to assist the transfer of scholarly educators and scholars.

Protection partnership, initiatives concerning global warming, women's empowerment and an increased international engagement are predictable aspects in contemporary circumstances.

Nevertheless, the strategy also puts notable focus it assigns to backing democratic principles, the continental organization and, in especial, the regional West African group the Economic Community of West African States.

This represents welcome public encouragement for the organization, which is currently under severe pressure after seeing its 50th anniversary year marred by the departure of the desert region countries – the Sahel country, Mali and the Sahel territory – whose controlling military regimes have refused to comply with its standard for political freedom and effective leadership.

Concurrently, in a communication targeted as much at the national citizenry as its sub-Saharan partners, the foreign ministry declared "supporting the African diaspora and the battle against prejudice and anti-foreigner sentiment are also crucial objectives".

Fine words of course are only a beginning stage. But in today's sour international climate such language really does stand out.