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Madrid is adopting a noticeably unique direction from numerous developed states when it comes to migration policies and cooperation with the continent of Africa.

Whereas nations including the United States, UK, French Republic and Federal Republic of Germany are slashing their foreign assistance funding, the Spanish government continues dedicated to increasing its involvement, though from a modest foundation.

New Initiatives

This week, the capital city has been welcoming an African Union-backed "international gathering on people of African descent". The African diaspora summit will examine reparative equity and the creation of a fresh assistance program.

This constitutes the newest evidence of how Spain's socialist-led government is seeking to deepen and broaden its involvement with the region that rests only a brief span to the southern direction, beyond the Gibraltar passage.

Strategic Framework

In July International Relations Head Madrid's top envoy established a recent guidance panel of renowned scholarly, international relations and cultural figures, the majority of them of African origin, to supervise the delivery of the detailed Spanish-African initiative that his government published at the close of the prior year.

Additional diplomatic missions below the Sahara desert, and collaborations in enterprise and learning are arranged.

Immigration Control

The difference between Spain's approach and that of others in the West is not just in expenditure but in perspective and mindset – and particularly evident than in dealing with population movement.

Comparable with other European locations, Administration Head Pedro Sanchez is exploring approaches to contain the influx of undocumented migrants.

"From our perspective, the movement dynamic is not only a issue of humanitarian values, solidarity and respect, but also one of logic," the government leader said.

More than 45,000 people made the perilous sea crossing from Africa's west coast to the overseas region of the Atlantic islands last year. Approximations of those who died while making the attempt vary from 1,400 to a overwhelming 10,460.

Effective Measures

Spain's leadership needs to shelter recent entrants, process their claims and handle their incorporation into larger population, whether short-term or more enduring.

Nonetheless, in language noticeably distinct from the hostile messaging that emanates from numerous EU governments, the Spanish administration frankly admits the hard economic realities on the ground in Western Africa that compel individuals to jeopardize their safety in the effort to reach the European continent.

Furthermore, it attempts to transcend simply saying "no" to new arrivals. Rather, it is developing creative alternatives, with a promise to foster population flows that are protected, organized and regular and "mutually beneficial".

Commercial Cooperation

While traveling to the Mauritanian Republic last year, Sanchez stressed the participation that foreign workers provide for the Spanish economy.

Madrid's administration finances training schemes for unemployed youth in states like the Senegalese Republic, notably for irregular migrants who have been returned, to support them in establishing workable employment options in their native country.

Additionally, it enlarged a "circular migration" initiative that gives West Africans temporary permits to come to Spain for defined timeframes of seasonal work, mainly in agriculture, and then come home.

Strategic Importance

The fundamental premise underlying Madrid's outreach is that Spain, as the continental nation closest to the mainland, has an crucial domestic priority in the region's development toward comprehensive and lasting growth, and tranquility and protection.

The core justification might seem apparent.

However history had taken the Iberian state down a distinctly separate route.

Apart from a several North African presences and a small tropical outpost – currently sovereign Equatorial Guinea – its colonial expansion in the 16th and 17th Centuries had mostly been oriented overseas.

Forward Vision

The heritage aspect includes not only dissemination of the national tongue, with an enhanced representation of the Cervantes Institute, but also initiatives to support the mobility of educational instructors and scholars.

Protection partnership, measures regarding environmental shifts, women's empowerment and an expanded diplomatic presence are expected elements in today's environment.

Nevertheless, the approach also places significant emphasis it places on supporting democratic ideas, the continental organization and, in specific, the West African regional organization the West African economic bloc.

This will be favorable governmental endorsement for the entity, which is presently facing significant challenges after seeing its 50th anniversary year spoiled by the withdrawal of the desert region countries – the West African nation, the West African state and the Nigerien Republic – whose governing armed forces have declined to adhere with its standard for political freedom and proper administration.

Meanwhile, in a message directed equally toward Madrid's domestic audience as its continental allies, the foreign ministry declared "helping persons of African origin and the fight against racism and anti-foreigner sentiment are also key priorities".

Eloquent statements of course are only a initial phase. But in today's sour international climate such discourse really does appear distinctive.