
Italian President Sergio Mattarella vetoed the nomination of fierce eurosceptic Paolo Savona as economy minister, scuppering the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and far-right League's bid to form a government.
Cottarelli, known as "Mr Scissors", has been summoned for talks with the president later Monday.
Frankfurt's DAX 30 meanwhile gained 0.6 percent as the Paris CAC exchange rose 0.4 percent.
The London FTSE stock exchange was closed for a bank holiday.