🔗 Share this article

Spain is charting a noticeably unique course from many European countries when it comes to immigration strategies and relations toward the continent of Africa.

While states such as the USA, UK, France and Federal Republic of Germany are slashing their development aid budgets, Madrid remains committed to expanding its engagement, though from a reduced baseline.

Current Programs

Recently, the capital city has been hosting an African Union-backed "world conference on individuals with African heritage". The African diaspora summit will discuss corrective fairness and the establishment of a innovative support mechanism.

This constitutes the latest indication of how Madrid's leadership is attempting to strengthen and expand its cooperation with the mainland that lies just a short distance to the southern direction, across the Straits of Gibraltar.

Policy Structure

During summer International Relations Head the Spanish diplomat established a recent guidance panel of prominent intellectual, foreign service and cultural figures, over 50 percent of them African, to monitor the delivery of the detailed Spain-Africa strategy that his administration unveiled at the end of last year.

Additional diplomatic missions in sub-Saharan regions, and partnerships in business and learning are arranged.

Movement Regulation

The difference between Spain's approach and that of others in the West is not just in spending but in tone and philosophy – and nowhere more so than in addressing migration.

Like elsewhere in Europe, Administration Head Madrid's chief executive is seeking methods to control the arrival of unauthorized entrants.

"For us, the immigration situation is not only a matter of ethical standards, solidarity and dignity, but also one of reason," the administration head stated.

Exceeding 45,000 persons attempted the hazardous maritime passage from the Atlantic African shore to the overseas region of the Canary Islands the previous year. Estimates of those who died while undertaking the journey extend from 1,400 to a overwhelming 10,460.

Effective Measures

The Spanish administration must house recent entrants, evaluate their applications and manage their absorption into wider society, whether short-term or more long-lasting.

However, in language distinctly separate from the confrontational statements that originates from numerous EU governments, the Sanchez government openly acknowledges the challenging monetary conditions on the territory in West Africa that force persons to risk their lives in the endeavor to achieve EU territory.

Furthermore, it attempts to move beyond simply saying "no" to incoming migrants. Instead, it is creating innovative options, with a promise to promote movements of people that are safe, organized and regular and "mutually beneficial".

Commercial Cooperation

During his visit to Mauritania last year, Sanchez emphasized the contribution that foreign workers provide for the national finances.

Spain's leadership supports skill development initiatives for unemployed youth in states like Senegal, notably for undocumented individuals who have been repatriated, to help them develop viable new livelihoods in their native country.

Furthermore, it increased a "cyclical relocation" scheme that provides persons from the region short-term visas to come to Spain for defined timeframes of temporary employment, mainly in agriculture, and then return.

Policy Significance

The basic concept supporting the Spanish approach is that Spain, as the EU member state closest to the mainland, has an crucial domestic priority in the region's development toward inclusive and sustainable development, and stability and safety.

The core justification might seem obvious.

Nevertheless the past had directed the Iberian state down a quite different path.

Besides a limited Mediterranean outposts and a compact tropical possession – currently sovereign the Gulf of Guinea country – its territorial acquisition in the 1500s and 1600s had primarily been focused overseas.

Prospective Direction

The arts component encompasses not only dissemination of the national tongue, with an enhanced representation of the Spanish cultural organization, but also initiatives to assist the movement of academic teachers and scholars.

Defense collaboration, initiatives concerning global warming, gender equality and an expanded diplomatic presence are expected elements in contemporary circumstances.

Nevertheless, the strategy also places significant emphasis it allocates for supporting democratic ideas, the African Union and, in especial, the West African regional organization Ecowas.

This represents positive official support for the latter, which is now experiencing substantial difficulties after witnessing its half-century celebration marred by the departure of the desert region countries – the Sahel country, the Malian Republic and the Nigerien Republic – whose governing armed forces have refused to comply with its protocol on democracy and effective leadership.

Concurrently, in a statement aimed similarly at the national citizenry as its sub-Saharan partners, the foreign ministry stated "supporting the African diaspora and the battle against prejudice and immigrant hostility are also essential focuses".

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