Europe doesn’t need any lessons on growth. On September 16, we’ll be revealing 500 reasons why

“Europe has been worrying about slowing growth since the start of this century,” Mario Draghi said in 2024.

“Various strategies to raise rates have come and gone, but the trend has remained unchanged.” There is a tendency for gloom to descend when thinking about Europe’s economic and business prospects.

In comparison with America, the Gulf and Asia, the mature markets of the EU and the rest of the continent have languished.

Since the financial crisis, GDP growth in the euro-area has averaged 0.9% a year.

In the U.S., it is above 2%.

Being European, overdoing the downsides comes naturally.

We are a broadly skeptical and conservative bunch, not overly impressed by flamboyant displays of confidence.

Admittedly the continent has labored as the AI hyper-scalers of America and China have produced products (and valuations) that make the eyes pop.

Progress towards a European capital markets union is lumpy.

The effects of the U.K. leaving the EU are still being felt.

The EU’s Digital Markets Act has been criticized for being both anti-consumer and anti-growth.

There are, though, plenty of bright spots.

On September 16, we will reveal our annual Fortune 500 Europe, the list of the 500 largest companies across the continent by revenue (here’s a link to last year’s list).

These are the powerhouses of the European economy, led last year by Volkswagen , Shell and Glencore .