Turkey has blamed the European Union for the embarrassing fiasco over seating arrangements that saw European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen left without a chair during a meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusogl told reporters: "The seating arrangements were made in line with the EU suggestion. Period. We would not be revealing this fact had accusations not been made against Turkey.

"The demands and suggestions of the EU side were met, and the proper protocol applied during the meeting." 

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The diplomatic faux pas was branded #sofagate after footage of the first female head of the EU, the only woman in the talks, gesturing in disbelief as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Council President Charles Michel took the two center-stage seats.  

Three chairs were provided when Erdogan visited Brussels for talks with the European Commission and the European Council.

Despite the fiasco, the meeting aimed to set a positive tone for relations between the two powers after months of dispute on multiple fronts.

The European Council president broke his silence and said, "I am sad that this situation eclipsed the major and beneficial geopolitical work that we carried out together in Ankara, and of which I hope Europe will reap the benefits."

EU spokesman Eric Mamer has said that the situation "sharpened" Von der Leyen's focus on women's rights. 

Video editing: Sam Cordell