The Spanish Unique Method to African Migration

The Spanish government is pursuing a noticeably unique course from numerous Western nations when it comes to migration policies and relations toward the African continent.

While states such as the US, United Kingdom, France and Germany are cutting back their foreign assistance funding, Spain remains committed to expanding its engagement, though from a modest foundation.

New Initiatives

This week, the Spanish capital has been hosting an AU-supported "world conference on individuals with African heritage". The African diaspora summit will explore restorative justice and the establishment of a new development fund.

This demonstrates the newest evidence of how Madrid's leadership is seeking to deepen and diversify its engagement with the continent that sits merely a brief span to the south, across the Straits of Gibraltar.

Strategic Framework

During summer International Relations Head José Manuel Albares established a new advisory council of prominent intellectual, diplomatic and arts representatives, the majority of them of African origin, to oversee the execution of the thorough Spanish-African initiative that his leadership unveiled at the end of last year.

Additional diplomatic missions in sub-Saharan regions, and partnerships in business and education are planned.

Immigration Control

The contrast between Spain's approach and that of different European countries is not just in funding but in tone and mindset – and nowhere more so than in handling population movement.

Like different EU nations, Government Leader Madrid's chief executive is seeking methods to manage the arrival of irregular arrivals.

"For us, the movement dynamic is not only a question of moral principles, unity and respect, but also one of reason," the government leader commented.

Over 45,000 persons made the perilous sea crossing from Africa's west coast to the island territory of the Canary Islands last year. Calculations of those who died while undertaking the journey range between 1,400 to a astonishing 10,460.

Workable Approaches

Madrid's government has to accommodate fresh migrants, process their claims and manage their absorption into wider society, whether transient or more permanent.

Nevertheless, in language distinctly separate from the hostile messaging that comes from numerous EU governments, the Spanish administration frankly admits the difficult financial circumstances on the ground in West Africa that compel individuals to jeopardize their safety in the attempt to attain Europe.

Furthermore, it attempts to move beyond simply saying "no" to new arrivals. Rather, it is developing creative alternatives, with a commitment to foster population flows that are secure, systematic and routine and "reciprocally advantageous".

Economic Partnerships

On his trip to Mauritania recently, Sanchez highlighted the input that foreign workers contribute to the Spanish economy.

The Spanish government supports skill development initiatives for youth without work in countries such as the Senegalese Republic, especially for undocumented individuals who have been repatriated, to assist them in creating viable new livelihoods in their native country.

And it has expanded a "rotational movement" initiative that gives individuals from West Africa temporary permits to come to Spain for restricted durations of seasonal work, primarily in farming, and then come home.

Policy Significance

The basic concept supporting Madrid's outreach is that Spain, as the EU member state most proximate to the continent, has an crucial domestic priority in the region's development toward comprehensive and lasting growth, and peace and security.

This fundamental reasoning might seem obvious.

Yet of course previous eras had guided the Spanish nation down a quite different path.

Besides a few Maghreb footholds and a small tropical outpost – today's independent the Central African nation – its imperial growth in the historical period had primarily been focused overseas.

Future Outlook

The cultural dimension incorporates not only advancement of Castilian, with an enhanced representation of the Spanish cultural organization, but also initiatives to support the movement of academic teachers and researchers.

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

Nonetheless, the approach also places significant emphasis it places on supporting democratic ideas, the pan-African body and, in particular, the sub-Saharan cooperative body the West African economic bloc.

This constitutes favorable governmental endorsement for the latter, which is currently under severe pressure after witnessing its half-century celebration tainted by the departure of the desert region countries – the Sahel country, the West African state and the Nigerien Republic – whose ruling military juntas have refused to comply with its standard for political freedom and good governance.

Simultaneously, in a message aimed similarly at the national citizenry as its continental allies, the external affairs department said "assisting the African community abroad and the struggle versus discrimination and anti-foreigner sentiment are also key priorities".

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