Germany is at the helm of efforts within the European Union (EU) to ease sanctions on Syria following President Bashar Assad's ouster, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
Berlin is pushing for the move within the bloc, provided it is met with progress on social issues, the FT said.
The French AFP news agency also reported that Germany is seeking to reduce EU sanctions on Syria, citing diplomats.
Shortly before Christmas, Berlin circulated two documents among EU capitals with suggestions for where the bloc's sanctions could be eased, the FT said, citing two people familiar with the matter.
Such relief would come gradually and would coincide with safeguarding minority and women's rights, the FT reported, as well as upholding commitments to ensuring non-proliferation of weapons.
The reports come one day after the US issued what it called a Syria General License with the aim of "expand[ing] authorizations for activities and transactions" in sanctioned Syria. The authorization is valid for six months, as Washington "continues to monitor the evolving situation on the ground."
Berlin argued that the EU could also temporarily ease restrictions.
