{
  "id": 19842718,
  "title": "A modest proposal: Europe should go full bananas",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/a-modest-proposal-europe-should-go-full-bananas",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-13T18:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Big Think",
    "slug": "big-think",
    "url": "https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/europe-goes-bananas/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Europe’s economic landscape is rife with hidden corridors that span national borders, forming what’s known as the Blue Banana. This 12-region economic cluster is a testament to the continent's interconnectedness and should be celebrated with a more imaginative approach. The Blue Banana spans from Manchester to Milan, boasting an impressive 110 million inhabitants and generating up to 40% of the Eurozone's GDP. However, the other bananas in Europe's fruit basket could benefit from a more catchy and memorable name, as currently, many lack a vibrant identity. By renaming these economic corridors after the bendy fruit, the EU could not only increase visibility but also foster a sense of belonging among their inhabitants. With names like the Silver Banana, Tawny Banana, or White Banana, the EU could create a Union of Bananas that transcends national borders and strengthens economic collaboration.",
  "summary": "Underneath the political map of Europe’s nation-states simmers another reality: a tangle of economic and logistical corridors that transcend national borders. The best known of these is the Blue Banana. Many others aren’t as visible, and that is due to poor marketing: They lack an equally imaginative handle. Hence this modest proposal: If the European Union is serious about integration, it should…",
  "key_points": [
    "Europe's Blue Banana spans 12 regions, 110 million people, 40% of Eurozone GDP",
    "Suggest renaming other economic corridors as bananas for visibility and belonging",
    "Proposed names: Silver, Tawny, White Bananas to create Union of Bananas"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}