🔗 Share this article Spain's Radically Different Method to Movement from the African Continent The Spanish government is pursuing a distinctly different direction from numerous developed states when it comes to migration policies and relations toward the continent of Africa. Whereas nations including the USA, UK, France and Federal Republic of Germany are reducing their development aid budgets, the Spanish government continues dedicated to enhancing its engagement, albeit from a lower starting point. Current Programs Currently, the capital city has been accommodating an continent-endorsed "global summit on individuals with African heritage". AfroMadrid2025 will discuss corrective fairness and the creation of a fresh assistance program. This represents the latest indication of how the Spanish administration is attempting to strengthen and diversify its engagement with the continent that rests only a brief span to the south, across the Straits of Gibraltar. Governmental Approach During summer External Affairs Minister José Manuel Albares established a fresh consultative body of renowned scholarly, diplomatic and cultural figures, over 50 percent of them from Africa, to monitor the execution of the comprehensive Madrid-Africa plan that his administration unveiled at the end of last year. New embassies south of the Sahara, and collaborations in commerce and education are arranged. Immigration Control The distinction between Madrid's strategy and that of others in the West is not just in expenditure but in perspective and outlook – and particularly evident than in dealing with immigration. Similar to different EU nations, Administration Head Madrid's chief executive is looking for ways to manage the influx of irregular arrivals. "From our perspective, the migratory phenomenon is not only a question of moral principles, solidarity and respect, but also one of logic," the administration head commented. Exceeding 45,000 persons attempted the hazardous maritime passage from Africa's west coast to the island territory of the Canary Islands the previous year. Calculations of those who died while making the attempt vary from 1,400 to a astonishing 10,460. Workable Approaches The Spanish administration needs to shelter recent entrants, process their claims and handle their incorporation into larger population, whether short-term or more long-lasting. However, in rhetoric markedly different from the confrontational statements that comes from numerous EU governments, the Spanish administration openly acknowledges the hard economic realities on the region in Western Africa that force persons to risk their lives in the effort to reach the European continent. Furthermore, it attempts to exceed simply refusing entry to new arrivals. Rather, it is creating innovative options, with a commitment to foster population flows that are protected, orderly and regular and "mutually beneficial". Financial Collaboration While traveling to Mauritania recently, Sanchez highlighted the contribution that foreign workers make to the national finances. The Spanish government finances skill development initiatives for unemployed youth in countries such as Senegal, especially for irregular migrants who have been returned, to support them in establishing workable employment options in their native country. Furthermore, it increased a "circular migration" initiative that provides individuals from West Africa temporary permits to enter Spanish territory for defined timeframes of seasonal work, mainly in agriculture, and then go back. Policy Significance The fundamental premise supporting Madrid's outreach is that the European country, as the European country most proximate to the region, has an vital national concern in the continent's advancement toward inclusive and sustainable development, and peace and security. The core justification might seem evident. Yet of course previous eras had guided the Iberian state down a noticeably unique course. Other than a few Maghreb footholds and a small tropical outpost – today's independent Equatorial Guinea – its imperial growth in the 16th and 17th Centuries had primarily been focused toward the Americas. Future Outlook The arts component includes not only dissemination of the national tongue, with an expanded presence of the Spanish cultural organization, but also schemes to help the movement of scholarly educators and scholars. Defense collaboration, measures regarding environmental shifts, female advancement and an enhanced consular representation are expected elements in contemporary circumstances. Nevertheless, the plan also puts notable focus it allocates for supporting democratic ideas, the African Union and, in specific, the regional West African group the West African economic bloc. This constitutes favorable governmental endorsement for the organization, which is now experiencing substantial difficulties after seeing its 50th anniversary year spoiled by the withdrawal of the Sahel nations – the Sahel country, the West African state and the Nigerien Republic – whose governing armed forces have declined to adhere with its agreement regarding democratic governance and effective leadership. Simultaneously, in a statement directed equally toward Spain's internal population as its African collaborators, the external affairs department said "helping persons of African origin and the battle against prejudice and immigrant hostility are also key priorities". Fine words of course are only a first step. But in contemporary pessimistic worldwide environment such discourse really does distinguish itself.