You have to wonder about what they are smoking over there in Europe.

This week comes work that the European Union wants to break open the energy markets. Again. I thought it was supposed to have happened July 1.

At any  rate. The initiative is perplexing, particularly considering the fact that the major governments of Europe cannot keep their hands off the energy business.

Witness France. Earlier this month, after an 18-month battle, Suez and Gaz de France agreed to their nuptials. It will create a company with near $100 billion in annual revenues. The French government - get this - will directly own more than one-third of the new entity. Over on the electricity side, the folks in the Elysee Palace control Electricite de France.

Helping along the Suez-GDF merger: no other than the new French John Kennedy, Nicolas Sarkozy. "Cosy" indeed, with keeping the government hands on the energy utilitiy pie. Meanwhile, the good bureaucrats of Brussels have pipe dreams about open markets.

... at least they can drink decent dark beer while they make much ado about nothing.

BRUSSELS -- European Union officials will propose legislation Wednesday that aims to break open the bloc's energy market, making it more competitive and less dominated by national monopolies