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Spain is charting a distinctly different course from numerous Western nations when it comes to migration policies and relations toward the African continent.

Although countries like the US, Britain, French Republic and Germany are slashing their development aid budgets, the Spanish government continues dedicated to increasing its participation, even from a reduced baseline.

New Initiatives

Recently, the Madrid has been accommodating an continent-endorsed "international gathering on persons of African origin". The African diaspora summit will explore restorative justice and the creation of a innovative support mechanism.

This constitutes the newest evidence of how the Spanish administration is seeking to deepen and expand its cooperation with the continent that sits merely a short distance to the south, over the Mediterranean crossing.

Strategic Framework

In July International Relations Head Madrid's top envoy established a recent guidance panel of prominent intellectual, diplomatic and arts representatives, the majority of them of African origin, to oversee the delivery of the comprehensive Spanish-African initiative that his administration published at the end of last year.

Fresh consular offices south of the Sahara, and partnerships in enterprise and academic are arranged.

Migration Management

The contrast between Madrid's strategy and that of different European countries is not just in spending but in tone and mindset – and nowhere more so than in addressing population movement.

Like elsewhere in Europe, Government Leader Pedro Sanchez is exploring approaches to manage the arrival of unauthorized entrants.

"In our view, the movement dynamic is not only a matter of ethical standards, unity and respect, but also one of logic," the administration head commented.

More than 45,000 individuals attempted the hazardous maritime passage from the Atlantic African shore to the island territory of the Atlantic islands the previous year. Approximations of those who perished while making the attempt vary from 1,400 to a staggering 10,460.

Effective Measures

The Spanish administration must house recent entrants, process their claims and handle their incorporation into larger population, whether temporary or more long-lasting.

However, in language distinctly separate from the adversarial communication that originates from many European capitals, the Spanish administration publicly recognizes the difficult financial circumstances on the region in the West African region that compel individuals to endanger themselves in the endeavor to achieve the European continent.

And it is trying to exceed simply denying access to new arrivals. Instead, it is creating innovative options, with a pledge to encourage movements of people that are protected, organized and standardized and "reciprocally advantageous".

Commercial Cooperation

While traveling to the Mauritanian Republic recently, the Spanish leader stressed the contribution that migrants contribute to the national finances.

Madrid's administration finances educational programs for youth without work in states like the Senegalese Republic, notably for unauthorized persons who have been returned, to support them in establishing workable employment options back home.

And it has expanded a "cyclical relocation" initiative that provides persons from the region temporary permits to enter Spanish territory for limited periods of periodic labor, primarily in farming, and then return.

Policy Significance

The basic concept supporting the Spanish approach is that the European country, as the European country nearest to the continent, has an vital national concern in Africa's progress toward comprehensive and lasting growth, and peace and security.

The core justification might seem apparent.

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

Apart from a limited Mediterranean outposts and a minor equatorial territory – today's independent the Central African nation – its territorial acquisition in the 1500s and 1600s had mainly been directed across the Atlantic.

Prospective Direction

The heritage aspect includes not only advancement of Castilian, with an increased footprint of the Spanish cultural organization, but also schemes to help the mobility of academic teachers and researchers.

Defense collaboration, measures regarding environmental shifts, female advancement and an increased international engagement are predictable aspects in today's environment.

However, the plan also places significant emphasis it allocates for backing democratic principles, the African Union and, in specific, the West African regional organization the West African economic bloc.

This represents welcome public encouragement for the organization, which is now experiencing substantial difficulties after observing its five-decade milestone spoiled by the departure of the Sahel nations – the Sahel country, the Malian Republic and the Sahel territory – whose governing armed forces have chosen not to follow with its standard for political freedom and effective leadership.

Simultaneously, in a message aimed similarly at Madrid's domestic audience as its continental allies, the foreign ministry declared "supporting the African diaspora and the fight against racism and xenophobia are also essential focuses".

Impressive rhetoric of course are only a initial phase. But in contemporary pessimistic worldwide environment such terminology really does appear distinctive.