The position has been vacant since May when Catalin Vatafu, former advisor on external matters to former prime minister Emil Boc, was removed from office and from the position of state secretary with the Ministry of European Affairs, also through decision of Premier Ponta. In May, Cotovelea was appointed state secretary, replacing Vatafu.
Cotovelea had previously worked in the central administration as deputy general manager with the Finance Ministry, in the government run by former prime minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, and as national assistant coordinator of external non-reimbursable financial assistance.