Carlos Westendorp y Cabeza was born in Madrid on January 7th. 1937.

Bachelor of Law, he joined the Spanish diplomatic service in 1964.

His first post as a diplomat was Brazil. He was Consul in São Paulo from 1966 to 1969.

He was posted to the Diplomatic School in Madrid from 1969 to 1970, being the director of economic studies.

From 1970 to 1974 he was sent to the Spanish Mission at the European Community.

Between 1974 and 1979 he was appointed to the Ministry of Industry and to the Commercial Office of the Embassy of Spain in The Hague.

Since 1979 he has always been devoted to the European affairs: in 1979 he joined the team for the negotiation of the Spanish membership of the European Community; in 1981 he was appointed Secretary General of the Secretariat of State for the Relations with the EEC.

In May 1983 was appointed President Excecutive of the Board for the Relations with the EEC. Two years later he was appointed Secretary General for the European Communities.

At the end of 1985 he has posted as permanent ambassador of Spain at the EEC.

In March 1991 he was appointed Secretary of State for the European Communities.

He is now Minister Plenipotentiary in the rank of the Spanish diplomatic service.

He has been appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in December 1995.