Madrid's Radically Different Approach to African Migration

The Spanish government is pursuing a distinctly different course from many European countries when it comes to migration policies and cooperation with the continent of Africa.

While nations including the US, UK, French Republic and Federal Republic of Germany are cutting back their foreign assistance funding, the Spanish government stays focused to increasing its participation, though from a reduced baseline.

Current Programs

Recently, the Spanish capital has been welcoming an continent-endorsed "world conference on individuals with African heritage". The African diaspora summit will explore reparative equity and the creation of a fresh assistance program.

This demonstrates the latest indication of how the Spanish administration is working to enhance and expand its cooperation with the region that sits merely a short distance to the south, across the Straits of Gibraltar.

Strategic Framework

In July International Relations Head the Spanish diplomat established a recent guidance panel of distinguished academic, international relations and arts representatives, more than half of them African, to monitor the execution of the comprehensive Madrid-Africa plan that his leadership released at the close of the prior year.

Additional diplomatic missions in sub-Saharan regions, and collaborations in commerce and academic are scheduled.

Immigration Control

The contrast between Madrid's strategy and that of other Western nations is not just in funding but in tone and philosophy – and particularly evident than in dealing with population movement.

Similar to other European locations, Administration Head Madrid's chief executive is seeking methods to control the entry of irregular arrivals.

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

Exceeding 45,000 individuals undertook the dangerous ocean journey from the Atlantic African shore to the island territory of the Canaries the previous year. Calculations of those who died while trying the crossing extend from 1,400 to a overwhelming 10,460.

Workable Approaches

The Spanish administration must house fresh migrants, review their cases and oversee their integration into wider society, whether transient or more enduring.

However, in terminology noticeably distinct from the hostile messaging that originates from several Western administrations, the Spanish administration publicly recognizes the hard economic realities on the region in the West African region that compel individuals to risk their lives in the endeavor to achieve Europe.

Additionally, it strives to transcend simply denying access to incoming migrants. Conversely, it is creating innovative options, with a promise to foster human mobility that are protected, orderly and regular and "jointly profitable".

Financial Collaboration

On his trip to Mauritania recently, Sanchez emphasized the input that migrants contribute to the national finances.

The Spanish government funds educational programs for youth without work in states like the Senegalese Republic, particularly for irregular migrants who have been sent back, to assist them in creating workable employment options back home.

Additionally, it enlarged a "circular migration" scheme that provides persons from the region temporary permits to enter Spanish territory for restricted durations of temporary employment, mainly in agriculture, and then come home.

Geopolitical Relevance

The core principle guiding Madrid's outreach is that the Iberian nation, as the continental nation closest to the region, has an essential self interest in Africa's progress toward comprehensive and lasting growth, and peace and security.

That basic rationale might seem evident.

Yet of course the past had directed Spain down a noticeably unique course.

Besides a few Maghreb footholds and a small tropical outpost – presently autonomous the Gulf of Guinea country – its territorial acquisition in the 1500s and 1600s had primarily been focused overseas.

Forward Vision

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

Defense collaboration, action on climate change, gender equality and an increased international engagement are unsurprising components in today's environment.

Nevertheless, the approach also lays very public stress it places on assisting democratic values, the African Union and, in specific, the West African regional organization Ecowas.

This represents positive official support for the organization, which is now experiencing substantial difficulties after observing its five-decade milestone spoiled by the departure of the Sahelian states – the West African nation, the West African state and the Nigerien Republic – whose controlling military regimes have refused to comply with its standard for political freedom and good governance.

Simultaneously, in a message targeted as much at Spain's internal population as its continental allies, the foreign ministry stated "assisting the African community abroad and the battle against prejudice and xenophobia are also essential focuses".

Eloquent statements of course are only a first step. But in today's sour international climate such language really does stand out.