The European Union may be light years ahead of the U.S. when it comes to climate change policy, but that doesn't mean it's still not a total bureaucratic mess from time to time.

Case in point: Leaders of the 27 member nations met this week in Brussels to discuss a proposal that would attempt to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent compared to 1990 levels by 2020. The result of the two-day meeting? They decided to meet again before the end of the year, at which point they will keep talking about the plan.

Officials from some member states say they need more time to examine the consequences of such a proposal, which sounds suspiciously like a retreat to us. The brakes have been most heavily applied by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who may ask for concessions for automakers and other industries.

Merkel admitted being under pressure from Mercedes, Audi and Porsche, all of whom could face hefty fines if they do not reduce exhaust emissions. The Austrians too have asked for industry exemptions from the emissions trading scheme that is a major component of the E.U. proposal.

But European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso was quick to warn members that their reputations are on the line. "The European Union would lose all credibility if one year after having given a strong signal, it was unable to meet its targets," he said.