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Madrid is adopting a noticeably unique course from many European countries when it comes to immigration strategies and engagement with the African mainland.

Whereas countries like the United States, United Kingdom, France and Federal Republic of Germany are cutting back their foreign assistance funding, Madrid stays focused to increasing its participation, albeit from a reduced baseline.

Current Programs

Recently, the Spanish capital has been hosting an African Union-backed "global summit on individuals with African heritage". AfroMadrid2025 will discuss restorative justice and the creation of a innovative support mechanism.

This constitutes the newest evidence of how Madrid's leadership is seeking to deepen and diversify its engagement with the mainland that rests only a brief span to the south, beyond the Gibraltar passage.

Policy Structure

During summer Foreign Minister the Spanish diplomat launched a new advisory council of prominent intellectual, diplomatic and heritage experts, more than half of them from Africa, to supervise the execution of the thorough Madrid-Africa plan that his government published at the end of last year.

New embassies in sub-Saharan regions, and collaborations in business and learning are scheduled.

Migration Management

The difference between Spain's approach and that of different European countries is not just in funding but in tone and philosophy – and particularly evident than in dealing with population movement.

Comparable with different EU nations, Government Leader Pedro Sanchez is exploring approaches to contain the entry of unauthorized entrants.

"From our perspective, the movement dynamic is not only a question of moral principles, solidarity and dignity, but also one of rationality," the prime minister said.

Exceeding 45,000 persons attempted the hazardous maritime passage from Africa's west coast to the Spanish archipelago of the Canary Islands the previous year. Estimates of those who died while trying the crossing range between 1,400 to a overwhelming 10,460.

Workable Approaches

Madrid's government has to accommodate recent entrants, evaluate their applications and oversee their integration into larger population, whether short-term or more permanent.

However, in rhetoric noticeably distinct from the hostile messaging that originates from numerous EU governments, the Madrid leadership openly acknowledges the difficult financial circumstances on the region in West Africa that push people to endanger themselves in the effort to reach Europe.

And it is trying to transcend simply denying access to incoming migrants. Instead, it is creating innovative options, with a commitment to promote human mobility that are secure, organized and regular and "jointly profitable".

Financial Collaboration

On his trip to the Mauritanian Republic last year, the Spanish leader highlighted the input that foreign workers make to the Spanish economy.

Madrid's administration funds skill development initiatives for unemployed youth in countries such as Senegal, especially for undocumented individuals who have been repatriated, to help them develop workable employment options back home.

Additionally, it enlarged a "cyclical relocation" scheme that offers persons from the region temporary permits to arrive in the Iberian nation for limited periods of temporary employment, mainly in agriculture, and then return.

Policy Significance

The fundamental premise underlying Spain's engagement is that the European country, as the EU member state nearest to the continent, has an essential self interest in the region's development toward equitable and enduring progress, and tranquility and protection.

That basic rationale might seem apparent.

Nevertheless the past had directed the Spanish nation down a noticeably unique course.

Apart from a few Maghreb footholds and a compact tropical possession – presently autonomous the Central African nation – its territorial acquisition in the 1500s and 1600s had mostly been oriented across the Atlantic.

Prospective Direction

The heritage aspect incorporates not only promotion of the Spanish language, with an increased footprint of the Cervantes Institute, but also schemes to assist the mobility of scholarly educators and investigators.

Security co-operation, action on climate change, gender equality and an expanded diplomatic presence are predictable aspects in the current climate.

Nevertheless, the plan also places significant emphasis it allocates for supporting democratic ideas, the pan-African body and, in particular, the regional West African group Ecowas.

This constitutes positive official support for the entity, which is presently facing significant challenges after witnessing its half-century celebration spoiled by the withdrawal of the Sahelian states – the Sahel country, the West African state and Niger – whose governing armed forces have refused to comply with its agreement regarding democratic governance and good governance.

Concurrently, in a message aimed similarly at Madrid's domestic audience as its African collaborators, the foreign ministry declared "helping persons of African origin and the battle against prejudice and immigrant hostility are also crucial objectives".

Fine words of course are only a beginning stage. But in today's sour international climate such language really does distinguish itself.