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The Spanish government is pursuing a distinctly different direction from many European countries when it comes to migration policies and relations toward the African mainland.

Although nations including the US, Britain, French Republic and Germany are reducing their foreign assistance funding, Spain stays focused to enhancing its engagement, even from a lower starting point.

Current Programs

Currently, the capital city has been welcoming an African Union-backed "international gathering on individuals with African heritage". The African diaspora summit will explore reparative equity and the establishment of a fresh assistance program.

This constitutes the latest indication of how the Spanish administration is attempting to strengthen and broaden its involvement with the continent that rests only a short distance to the southern direction, beyond the Gibraltar passage.

Governmental Approach

This past summer External Affairs Minister the Spanish diplomat established a fresh consultative body of renowned scholarly, diplomatic and arts representatives, over 50 percent of them from Africa, to supervise the delivery of the thorough Spanish-African initiative that his government unveiled at the conclusion of the previous year.

Fresh consular offices below the Sahara desert, and cooperative ventures in commerce and academic are scheduled.

Immigration Control

The contrast between Spain's approach and that of others in the West is not just in funding but in perspective and mindset – and particularly evident than in handling immigration.

Similar to other European locations, Government Leader the Spanish premier is looking for ways to control the influx of irregular arrivals.

"For us, the movement dynamic is not only a matter of ethical standards, mutual support and honor, but also one of reason," the prime minister commented.

Exceeding 45,000 individuals undertook the dangerous ocean journey from the Atlantic African shore to the overseas region of the Canaries last year. Approximations of those who lost their lives while undertaking the journey vary from 1,400 to a overwhelming 10,460.

Practical Solutions

Spain's leadership must house fresh migrants, evaluate their applications and oversee their integration into broader community, whether transient or more long-lasting.

However, in rhetoric markedly different from the adversarial communication that emanates from many European capitals, the Sanchez government openly acknowledges the challenging monetary conditions on the territory in Western Africa that force persons to risk their lives in the effort to reach the European continent.

Furthermore, it attempts to move beyond simply saying "no" to new arrivals. Conversely, it is developing creative alternatives, with a commitment to encourage human mobility that are secure, organized and standardized and "mutually beneficial".

Commercial Cooperation

During his visit to Mauritania last year, Sanchez emphasized the input that foreign workers make to the Spanish economy.

The Spanish government supports educational programs for youth without work in states like the Senegalese Republic, especially for irregular migrants who have been repatriated, to help them develop workable employment options in their native country.

Additionally, it enlarged a "rotational movement" programme that gives persons from the region temporary permits to enter Spanish territory for restricted durations of seasonal work, primarily in farming, and then return.

Geopolitical Relevance

The fundamental premise guiding the Spanish approach is that Spain, as the continental nation most proximate to the continent, has an essential self interest in the region's development toward comprehensive and lasting growth, and stability and safety.

The core justification might seem evident.

Nevertheless history had taken the Spanish nation down a quite different path.

Apart from a several North African presences and a compact tropical possession – currently sovereign Equatorial Guinea – its territorial acquisition in the historical period had primarily been focused across the Atlantic.

Forward Vision

The heritage aspect includes not only advancement of Castilian, with an expanded presence of the language promotion body, but also schemes to help the movement of educational instructors and scholars.

Security co-operation, action on climate change, female advancement and an expanded diplomatic presence are predictable aspects in today's environment.

Nevertheless, the approach also lays very public stress it assigns to assisting democratic values, the African Union and, in specific, the sub-Saharan cooperative body the West African economic bloc.

This represents positive official support for the entity, which is presently facing significant challenges after seeing its 50th anniversary year spoiled by the departure of the Sahelian states – the West African nation, Mali and Niger – whose governing armed forces have declined to adhere with its standard for political freedom and good governance.

Simultaneously, in a communication directed equally toward Spain's internal population as its African collaborators, the foreign ministry said "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 contemporary pessimistic worldwide environment such language really does appear distinctive.