Contrary to 10 years ago, best students coming from "les grandes ecoles" want to be entrepreneur or join a startup. This is a radical change to the mindset from the past when the best opportunity would be in big companies. PhD start to be recognised as they should in private sector and more PhD are leaving academic to private (which I did).
Now, I think that comparing Europe to SV is too premature, (A change in culture is yet to come). But the dynamic is here.
In Paris, salaries in tech startups are high (for what I saw: ~42K junior, ~60 senior (5y)) compared to the cost of living (in France healthcare and education are free), rent is high. So yeah, I am confident for the future of Europe :)
edit: and from what I saw, most startups' products have english language available (interface/doc). Most of them have international expansion in mind.