Investment growth is too weak to compensate for lost years
Investment (gross fixed capital formation) growth in the EU as a whole has been positive, albeit weaker than inprevious recoveries. Since 2013, its average annual growth rates for the EU (2.8%) and the euro area (2.9%) have been somewhat stronger than what they were in 1999–2007 (see Figure 1.15) and this is expected to continue over the 2018–2020 period. Gross fixed capital formation is forecasted to contribute about 0.65 pp to EU and 0.67 pp to euro area GDP growth in 2018.
more information in Benchmarking Working Europe 2019 chapter 1 'Macroeconomic developments in Europe: tackling the growth, inequality and climate change challenges'