Brussels, 20/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - Speaking on Monday during a forum on external energy policy, Javier Solana, spoke out against the persisting divisions within the EU25, which were putting a brake on efforts to adopt the EU's external policy for meeting the EU's new energy challenges. The EU High Representative regretted that “an unprincipled global scrambling for energy resources may replace battles of the past for territory”. He added that, “too often we have ended up divided or defending a line which is a lowest common denominator. That has to change. If we are not able to promote a unified and substantive position on this issue, partners will run rings round us”, which had happened on several occasions in the past. Solana also warned of repercussions from energy competition between countries from the EU25 with regard to the EU's external policy. He explained that “Our energy needs may well limit our ability to push wider foreign policy objectives, not least in the area of conflict resolution, human rights and good governance. Solana concluded with the following words, “We may have to deal increasingly with governments whose interests are different from out own and who do not necessarily share our values. Sitting on huge reserves of oil and gas give some difficult regimes a trump card. They can use energy revenues for purposes which we may find problematic”. (eh)