Elorza was born in Madrid,being the eldest child of diplomat Francisco Javier Elorza y Echániz and aristocrat María del Pilar Cavengt y Martín de Oliva,3rd Marchioness of Nerva.
In 1986 he returned to the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Communities as deputy ambassador,replacing Camilo Barcia García-Villamil.[3] In 1991 he was called back to Madrid to occupy the General Secretariat for the European Communities (second to the secretary of state)[4] and,three years later,he again replaced Camilo Barcia,this time as ambassador permanent representative of Spain to the European Communities,[5] moment when the Spanish mission was renamed as "Representation of Spain to the European Union."
During this years,closely involved in European affairs,Elorza negotiated the incorporation of Spain into the Schengen Area,as well as the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Amsterdam,among others.[5] It was precisely at this time that he was described as a "diplomatic tank" for his tough defense of Spanish interests at the weekly COREPER meetings,and that "most people respected Elorza but some really hated him".[6]
After the death of his mother,in 1998 he inherited the title of Marquess of Nerva.[7]
After almost six years in Brussels,he was assigned to Paris,where he served as ambassador from 2000 to 2004.[8] After the change of government in 2004,he was appointed ambassador to the Russian Federation,[9] with dual accreditation to Georgia,[10] Uzbekistan,[11] Armenia,[12] Turkmenistan[13] and Belarus.[14] He was dismissed in December 2007.
In May 2008 he was tasked with leading the new General Secretariat for Consular and Migration Affairs,[15] coordinating the Spanish consular policy,the protection of Spaniards abroad and management of consular social assistance.[16]
The marquess last assignments before retirement were to India,[17] with dual accrediation to Sri Lanka,[18] Maldives,[19] Nepal[20] and Bhutan,[21] between February 2011 and April 2012,and to Italy,[22] with dual accrediation to San Marino,[23] between April 2012 and December 2016.[24]
↑ To Sri Lanka and Maldives since March 26, 2011, to Nepal since May 21, 2011 and to Butan since June 18, 2011
↑ To Georgia since December 11, 2004, to Uzbekistan since December 29, 2004, to Armenia since February 26, 2005 and to Turkmenistan and Belarus since March 22, 2005
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