“Sofagate”: At the first meeting afterwards, von der Leyen becomes clear

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For the first time since the “Sofagate” affair, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Council President Charles Michel to discuss her protocol during a joint visit to Turkey.

According to the EU Commission, Michel and von der Leyen held their weekly meeting in Brussels in the afternoon.

Von der Leyen made it clear "that they will not allow such a situation again," it said from EU circles.

The diplomatic scandal occurred during a visit by EU leaders to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

A video shows how von der Leyen initially stops at the beginning of the meeting in the presidential office on Tuesday and reacts with an "Um" when Erdogan and Michel sit on two armchairs next to each other - a third armchair was not ready.

The head of the commission had to take a seat on a sofa at a considerable distance.

The snub from the Leyens in front of the cameras had sparked outrage in Brussels.

The Turkish government was faced with allegations of misogyny.

But there was also massive criticism of Michel because he did not immediately protest against von der Leyen's treatment.

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In an interview with various European newspapers, the Belgian was remorseful: "I make no secret of the fact that I haven't slept well at night since then because the scenes in my head keep playing back," said Michel.

His institution, the Council of Member States, however, also emphasized that the Council President, as the representative of the EU countries, has priority in terms of protocol when visiting abroad.

The Commission denies this interpretation

The Commission denies this interpretation and calls for the Presidents of both institutions to be given the same protocol status.

A “modus vivendi” should now be found “in order to avoid such situations in the future,” said a spokesman for von der Leyens.

Your team sent a list of five items to Michel's team.

However, the Council sees “a number of conditions” with the aim of “weakening the European Council”.

"The Commission is now taking advantage of this incident," said a council representative of the AFP news agency.

Von der Leyen's spokesman rejected this representation.

Leading MEPs called for a hearing in the plenary session on the incident.

On Tuesday, Michel and von der Leyen will first answer questions from the group leaders.

A debate in the plenary session of the EU Parliament is also planned.