Madrid's Unique Strategy to Movement from the African Continent

Madrid is adopting a distinctly different course from several developed states when it comes to movement regulations and engagement with the continent of Africa.

While nations including the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany are cutting back their foreign assistance funding, the Spanish government stays focused to enhancing its involvement, though from a modest foundation.

Current Programs

Currently, the Spanish capital has been accommodating an AU-supported "international gathering on persons of African origin". The African diaspora summit will explore reparative equity and the creation of a innovative support mechanism.

This constitutes the latest indication of how Madrid's leadership is attempting to strengthen and broaden its involvement with the continent that rests only a few kilometres to the south, across the Straits of Gibraltar.

Governmental Approach

During summer International Relations Head Madrid's top envoy initiated a recent guidance panel of distinguished academic, diplomatic and cultural figures, more than half of them from Africa, to monitor the delivery of the thorough Spanish-African initiative that his government published at the conclusion of the previous year.

New embassies below the Sahara desert, and collaborations in business and learning are planned.

Immigration Control

The contrast between Spain's approach and that of different European countries is not just in spending but in attitude and outlook – and nowhere more so than in dealing with immigration.

Comparable with different EU nations, Administration Head Pedro Sanchez is exploring approaches to contain the arrival of undocumented migrants.

"In our view, the movement dynamic is not only a issue of humanitarian values, mutual support and respect, but also one of logic," the government leader commented.

More than 45,000 individuals undertook the dangerous ocean journey from the Atlantic African shore to the Spanish archipelago of the Canaries the previous year. Approximations of those who lost their lives while making the attempt vary from 1,400 to a overwhelming 10,460.

Effective Measures

The Spanish administration needs to shelter new arrivals, review their cases and manage their absorption into larger population, whether temporary or more long-lasting.

Nonetheless, in rhetoric noticeably distinct from the confrontational statements that emanates from many European capitals, the Sanchez government publicly recognizes the challenging monetary conditions on the ground in West Africa that force persons to risk their lives in the attempt to attain the European continent.

And it is trying to move beyond simply refusing entry to new arrivals. Instead, it is developing creative alternatives, with a promise to foster human mobility that are protected, organized and routine and "mutually beneficial".

Financial Collaboration

On his trip to the West African nation recently, Madrid's representative emphasized the input that foreign workers make to the Spanish economy.

The Spanish government funds training schemes for jobless young people in countries such as the Senegalese Republic, particularly for irregular migrants who have been returned, to support them in establishing viable new livelihoods in their homeland.

And it has expanded a "rotational movement" programme that offers West Africans limited-duration authorizations to come to Spain for limited periods of seasonal work, mainly in agriculture, and then return.

Geopolitical Relevance

The basic concept guiding the Spanish approach is that Spain, as the continental nation most proximate to the region, has an vital national concern in Africa's progress toward comprehensive and lasting growth, and tranquility and protection.

That basic rationale might seem evident.

Nevertheless history had taken the Spanish nation down a distinctly separate route.

Besides a several North African presences and a small tropical outpost – today's independent Equatorial Guinea – its imperial growth in the 16th and 17th Centuries had mostly been oriented toward the Americas.

Future Outlook

The heritage aspect encompasses not only advancement of Castilian, with an expanded presence of the language promotion body, but also schemes to assist the transfer of academic teachers and researchers.

Protection partnership, action on climate change, women's empowerment and an enhanced consular representation are expected elements in today's environment.

Nonetheless, the approach also puts notable focus it places on assisting democratic values, the pan-African body and, in specific, the sub-Saharan cooperative body Ecowas.

This will be welcome public encouragement for the entity, which is now experiencing substantial difficulties after witnessing its half-century celebration marred by the walk-out of the desert region countries – the Sahel country, the West African state and the Nigerien Republic – whose governing armed forces have chosen not to follow with its standard for political freedom and good governance.

Concurrently, in a message aimed similarly at the national citizenry as its sub-Saharan partners, the international relations office declared "supporting the African diaspora and the fight against racism and anti-foreigner sentiment are also essential focuses".

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