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Spain is charting a noticeably unique direction from numerous Western nations when it comes to immigration strategies and cooperation with the African continent.

Although countries like the United States, Britain, France and Germany are reducing their foreign assistance funding, Spain remains committed to increasing its participation, though from a modest foundation.

Current Programs

This week, the Madrid has been welcoming an African Union-backed "world conference on individuals with African heritage". The Madrid African conference will explore restorative justice and the establishment of a innovative support mechanism.

This demonstrates the latest indication of how the Spanish administration is seeking to deepen and broaden its involvement with the mainland that rests only a brief span to the southern direction, over the Mediterranean crossing.

Policy Structure

In July International Relations Head the Spanish diplomat initiated a new advisory council of prominent intellectual, foreign service and cultural figures, the majority of them African, to oversee the execution of the detailed Madrid-Africa plan that his administration published at the close of the prior year.

Additional diplomatic missions below the Sahara desert, and cooperative ventures in commerce and academic are scheduled.

Migration Management

The contrast between the Spanish method and that of different European countries is not just in spending but in attitude and philosophy – and particularly evident than in addressing migration.

Similar to other European locations, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is exploring approaches to contain the arrival of undocumented migrants.

"In our view, the movement dynamic is not only a matter of ethical standards, solidarity and respect, but also one of rationality," the prime minister commented.

Over 45,000 persons attempted the hazardous maritime passage from West African coastline to the Spanish archipelago of the Canaries last year. Calculations of those who died while trying the crossing extend from 1,400 to a overwhelming 10,460.

Practical Solutions

Spain's leadership needs to shelter fresh migrants, process their claims and oversee their integration into broader community, whether temporary or more permanent.

However, in rhetoric distinctly separate from the adversarial communication that emanates from several Western administrations, the Sanchez government publicly recognizes the challenging monetary conditions on the territory in Western Africa that force persons to endanger themselves in the endeavor to achieve EU territory.

And it is trying to exceed simply refusing entry to recent entrants. Rather, it is designing original solutions, with a pledge to encourage movements of people that are secure, orderly and routine and "jointly profitable".

Economic Partnerships

On his trip to the West African nation recently, the Spanish leader stressed the contribution that immigrants contribute to the Iberian economic system.

The Spanish government supports skill development initiatives for unemployed youth in nations including Senegal, especially for unauthorized persons who have been returned, to assist them in creating workable employment options in their homeland.

And it has expanded a "rotational movement" initiative that offers West Africans temporary permits to enter Spanish territory for limited periods of periodic labor, primarily in farming, and then return.

Policy Significance

The basic concept supporting Spain's engagement is that the Iberian nation, as the continental nation closest to the region, has an essential self interest in the continent's advancement toward comprehensive and lasting growth, and stability and safety.

That basic rationale might seem evident.

Yet of course history had taken the Spanish nation down a noticeably unique course.

Other than a few Maghreb footholds and a minor equatorial territory – presently autonomous the Central African nation – its colonial expansion in the 1500s and 1600s had mainly been directed toward the Americas.

Prospective Direction

The cultural dimension encompasses not only advancement of Castilian, with an expanded presence of the language promotion body, but also initiatives to assist the mobility of academic teachers and researchers.

Defense collaboration, action on climate change, female advancement and an expanded diplomatic presence are expected elements in today's environment.

Nonetheless, the strategy also lays very public stress it places on assisting democratic values, the continental organization and, in especial, the regional West African group the West African economic bloc.

This constitutes favorable governmental endorsement for the latter, which is currently under severe pressure after observing its five-decade milestone marred by the walk-out of the desert region countries – the Sahel country, the West African state and Niger – whose controlling military regimes have chosen not to follow with its protocol on democracy and good governance.

Meanwhile, in a statement targeted as much at Madrid's domestic audience as its continental allies, the international relations office declared "helping persons of African origin and the struggle versus discrimination and xenophobia are also key priorities".

Eloquent statements of course are only a beginning stage. But in today's sour international climate such terminology really does appear distinctive.