Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not only that but them being stubborn and with a superiority complex. DACH companies rule EE with their capital and often manage to prototype and execute very much innovative features focused on convenience in the EE region (with local engineers etc). But this will never transform into something bigger because management wont allow non DACH people to assume executive roles + conservative market in their countries.
This is a very accurate, and very depressing, summary of why EU is stuck since the 2000s. Most EU tech and non-tech companies, with some notable exceptions like Spotify, have this mentality.
And then all of a sudden due to lack of workers and other factors even DACH began to change and basically accepted English as the defacto working language in tech.
Unfortunately it's a small change, too little too late as they say. Without proper transeuropean companies and unified market we will never be able to challenge competitors from Asia let alone the USA.