Germany is leading efforts for the European Union to ease sanctions imposed on Syria during the rule of President Bashar al-Assad who was ousted last month, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. German officials circulated two proposal documents among EU capitals shortly before Christmas outlining suggestions for the main areas where the bloc's sanctions on Syria could be eased,

Berlin is leading a push for the European Union to ease Assad-era sanctions on Syria as part of a western drive to support the country’s political transition and aid reconstruction after 13 years of devastating civil war.