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The Spanish government is pursuing a noticeably unique path from many Western nations when it comes to immigration strategies and relations toward the continent of Africa.

Whereas countries like the US, Britain, France and Germany are slashing their foreign assistance funding, the Spanish government continues dedicated to increasing its involvement, albeit from a modest foundation.

New Initiatives

Recently, the Spanish capital has been hosting an AU-supported "international gathering on people of African descent". The African diaspora summit will explore corrective fairness and the establishment of a new development fund.

This constitutes the latest indication of how the Spanish administration is seeking to deepen and broaden its involvement with the region that sits merely a brief span to the southern direction, beyond the Gibraltar passage.

Strategic Framework

During summer Foreign Minister the Spanish diplomat launched a new advisory council of distinguished academic, diplomatic and heritage experts, more than half of them of African origin, to monitor the execution of the comprehensive Spanish-African initiative that his government released at the conclusion of the previous year.

New embassies south of the Sahara, and collaborations in commerce and education are arranged.

Movement Regulation

The contrast between Madrid's strategy and that of others in the West is not just in spending but in perspective and outlook – and nowhere more so than in dealing with population movement.

Like different EU nations, Government Leader Madrid's chief executive is seeking methods to contain the influx of unauthorized entrants.

"In our view, the immigration situation is not only a question of moral principles, solidarity and honor, but also one of reason," the prime minister commented.

Over 45,000 people attempted the hazardous maritime passage from the Atlantic African shore to the Spanish archipelago of the Atlantic islands recently. Calculations of those who lost their lives while making the attempt range between 1,400 to a astonishing 10,460.

Workable Approaches

Madrid's government needs to shelter recent entrants, process their claims and oversee their integration into broader community, whether temporary or more long-lasting.

Nevertheless, in terminology noticeably distinct from the hostile messaging that emanates from several Western administrations, the Sanchez government frankly admits the difficult financial circumstances on the territory in the West African region that push people to endanger themselves in the attempt to attain the European continent.

And it is trying to exceed simply denying access to incoming migrants. Instead, it is creating innovative options, with a promise to foster movements of people that are protected, organized and routine and "jointly profitable".

Financial Collaboration

On his trip to the West African nation recently, Madrid's representative stressed the input that foreign workers make to the Iberian economic system.

Madrid's administration funds training schemes for unemployed youth in states like the West African country, notably for unauthorized persons who have been returned, to help them develop sustainable income sources in their homeland.

Furthermore, it increased a "cyclical relocation" programme that provides persons from the region limited-duration authorizations to come to Spain for restricted durations of temporary employment, primarily in farming, and then go back.

Policy Significance

The fundamental premise supporting the Spanish approach is that the European country, as the EU member state nearest to the region, has an essential self interest in the continent's advancement toward comprehensive and lasting growth, and stability and safety.

The core justification might seem obvious.

However history had taken Spain down a quite different path.

Besides a few Maghreb footholds and a small tropical outpost – presently autonomous the Gulf of Guinea country – its colonial expansion in the historical period had primarily been focused toward the Americas.

Future Outlook

The cultural dimension includes not only dissemination of the national tongue, with an expanded presence of the Spanish cultural organization, but also programmes to support the transfer of educational instructors and scholars.

Protection partnership, action on climate change, female advancement and an enhanced consular representation are predictable aspects in contemporary circumstances.

Nevertheless, the strategy also places significant emphasis it allocates for backing democratic principles, the continental organization and, in especial, the sub-Saharan cooperative body the West African economic bloc.

This will be favorable governmental endorsement for the entity, which is now experiencing substantial difficulties after observing its five-decade milestone marred by the withdrawal of the desert region countries – Burkina Faso, Mali and the Sahel territory – whose governing armed forces have refused to comply with its protocol on democracy and good governance.

Concurrently, in a message aimed similarly at the national citizenry as its African collaborators, the foreign ministry stated "supporting the African diaspora and the fight against racism and xenophobia are also essential focuses".

Fine words of course are only a first step. But in today's sour international climate such terminology really does distinguish itself.