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The Spanish government is pursuing a distinctly different course from several Western nations when it comes to movement regulations and relations toward the African mainland.

Whereas states such as the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany are slashing their international support allocations, Madrid continues dedicated to increasing its participation, even from a modest foundation.

Recent Developments

This week, the Spanish capital has been accommodating an AU-supported "global summit on persons of African origin". The African diaspora summit will examine restorative justice and the formation of a innovative support mechanism.

This represents the newest evidence of how Madrid's leadership is working to enhance and expand its cooperation with the mainland that sits merely a short distance to the southern direction, beyond the Gibraltar passage.

Governmental Approach

During summer Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares initiated a recent guidance panel of renowned scholarly, international relations and cultural figures, more than half of them from Africa, to supervise the execution of the detailed Spanish-African initiative that his government published at the conclusion of the previous year.

Additional diplomatic missions in sub-Saharan regions, and collaborations in business and learning are scheduled.

Movement Regulation

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

Like elsewhere in Europe, Prime Minister Madrid's chief executive is seeking methods to manage the influx of irregular arrivals.

"For us, the immigration situation is not only a issue of humanitarian values, mutual support and dignity, but also one of logic," the prime minister said.

More than 45,000 people undertook the dangerous ocean journey from West African coastline to the overseas region of the Canaries recently. Estimates of those who died while making the attempt vary from 1,400 to a overwhelming 10,460.

Practical Solutions

Spain's leadership has to accommodate fresh migrants, process their claims and oversee their integration into wider society, whether temporary or more permanent.

However, in terminology markedly different from the hostile messaging that emanates from several Western administrations, the Spanish administration frankly admits the difficult financial circumstances on the region in Western Africa that compel individuals to endanger themselves in the endeavor to achieve the European continent.

And it is trying to exceed simply saying "no" to recent entrants. Conversely, it is developing creative alternatives, with a promise to encourage human mobility that are safe, systematic and routine and "jointly profitable".

Financial Collaboration

During his visit to the Mauritanian Republic the previous year, Sanchez highlighted the contribution that immigrants contribute to the Spanish economy.

Spain's leadership funds skill development initiatives for unemployed youth in countries such as the West African country, particularly for undocumented individuals who have been repatriated, to assist them in creating viable new livelihoods in their native country.

And it has expanded a "circular migration" programme that provides persons from the region limited-duration authorizations to enter Spanish territory for limited periods of temporary employment, mainly in agriculture, and then return.

Policy Significance

The fundamental premise guiding Madrid's outreach is that the European country, as the continental nation nearest to the mainland, has an crucial domestic priority in the continent's advancement toward inclusive and sustainable development, and tranquility and protection.

The core justification might seem obvious.

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

Apart from a several North African presences and a minor equatorial territory – presently autonomous the Central African nation – its colonial expansion in the 16th and 17th Centuries had primarily been focused toward the Americas.

Forward Vision

The heritage aspect incorporates not only advancement of Castilian, with an expanded presence of the Spanish cultural organization, but also initiatives to help the transfer of scholarly educators and researchers.

Security co-operation, measures regarding environmental shifts, gender equality and an increased international engagement are predictable aspects in the current climate.

Nevertheless, the approach also lays very public stress it allocates for backing democratic principles, the African Union and, in particular, the regional West African group the Economic Community of West African States.

This constitutes favorable governmental endorsement for the latter, which is currently under severe pressure after witnessing its half-century celebration marred by the departure of the Sahelian states – the West African nation, the Malian Republic and the Sahel territory – whose controlling military regimes have declined to adhere with its standard for political freedom and effective leadership.

Simultaneously, in a statement targeted as much at Spain's internal population as its sub-Saharan partners, the external affairs department declared "helping persons of African origin and the fight against racism and immigrant hostility are also essential focuses".

Fine words of course are only a beginning stage. But in the current negative global atmosphere such language really does appear distinctive.