The European Union decided last week to impose sanctions, such as travel bans and asset freezes, on 13 of Assad's closest allies in response to a violent crackdown on pro-reform protests on top of an arms embargo already in place against Syria.
Britain and France, which are among the EU's main powerbrokers, have pushed for the inclusion of the Syrian president on EU lists of officials affected by sanctions.
But the failure to include him so far underlines divisions among the bloc's 27 members over the effectiveness of sanctions in restraining his government's violent actions.
EU foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels next week, are expected to formally approve a new list of around a dozen sanctioned officials, which ambassadors of EU governments drew up on Tuesday.
"There was consensus today on taking further measures by adding new individuals to the EU list, but the list has to be adopted by ministers next week," one diplomat said.
Rights groups say hundreds of people have been killed during two months of pro-democracy unrest in Syria so far.
Syrian authorities have blamed most of the violence on armed groups backed by Islamists and outside powers, who they say have killed more than 120 members of the security forces.
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