José Pedro Sebastián de Erice y Gómez-Acebo (1943-2020)

Former Spanish diplomat Don José Pedro Sebastián de Erice y Gómez-Acebo died at Madrid on May 6.  He played a major role in the negotiations for Spain's entry into the European Union.  He had served as the Economic and Commercial Counselor in Spain's embassies in Vienna and Washington, D.C.   Mr.  Sebastián de Erice served as the Spanish Ambassador to Germany, a position he held from 1996 through 2002 when he was named as Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   He remained in this position for a year before his appointment as Spanish Ambassador to the People's Republic of China in 2003.

Don José Pedro Sebastián de Erice y Gómez-Acebo  was 77 years old.

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He was born at Oporto, Portugal on May 3, 1943, the son of Spanish diplomat José Sebastián de Erice y O'Shea and Dolores Gómez-Acebo y Vázquez-Armero.

 He married Countess Teresa of Schönborn Buchheim in a civil ceremony at Vienna on July 10, 1968.  A Roman Catholic service was celebrated at Schönborn on July 14, 1968.

He is survived by Countess Teresa and their four children,  Pedro, Santiago, Gabriela, and Denia.   His grandchildren and other survivors are listed in the death notice.    Countess Teresa is the younger sister of Friedrich Karl, Count of Schönborn Buchheim, who is married to Princess Isabelle of France.

In 1999, the Spanish press reported that Doña Gabriela was dating the Prince of the Asturias.  She attended the wedding of Princess Tatjana of Liechtenstein, who four years earlier, was tapped as the princess most likely to marry the future king of Spain.   Felipe's relationship with Gabriela was brief.