DAMASCUS, Dec 17 (Reuters) - France raised its flag at its Damascus embassy on Tuesday for the first time in 12 years and European Union officials prepared to engage with the new Syrian leadership, a sign of the growing contacts after Bashar al-Assad was ousted as president.

Western states are gradually opening channels to the new authorities in Damascus led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, though they continue to designate the group as terrorists.

As well as France and Britain, which sent a team to meet Sharaa on Monday, Germany is also planning meetings with the new administration and the European Union said on Tuesday it will also establish contacts.