Hi I'm from Europe and I'm about to start my second business. I don't have friends in high places, and the process is entirely online and takes about an hour to complete followed by 1-5 weeks of waiting for tax approval etc.
Pro tip: most American anti-Europe propaganda is propaganda.
I do work in a bureaucracy heavy activity in Europe, and without my friends in high places I'd be shut down. I've had wait times for bureaucracy cut from 2 years to 2 weeks, licenses given after a dinner when official processes were denied, etc. I've never had these problems when trying to start the American branch. Competition yes, having to wine and dine local politicians nephews no