No, we're not talking about the Cologne Carnival. The "blue banana" refers to regions with a dense population zone that includes almost all central facilities in Europe and 20 global and international cities.
This spatial development model includes London, Switzerland, the Upper Rhine region, and northern Italy. In 1989, Roger Brunet wanted to draw attention to the shortcomings of French spatial planning and regional policy and at the same time warn that France should not miss out on European integration. He did this by dividing Europe into active and passive areas. The active areas were labeled "blue banana" and were supposed to be a model for France.
Due to the higher population density, the regions of the "blue banana" were able to benefit from better exchange, hire more qualified workers, and create good long-distance infrastructure. In general, it can be said that the entire economy in these regions has improved, creating a high degree of dynamism and centrality. The proximity in this region has enabled market participants to save on transport costs and travel time, and cooperation between economic areas located on the periphery has been improved.
Cologne in particular has become a central hub for the entire transport and logistics industry thanks to its location in the "blue banana." The city and its surroundings became an ideal logistics location due to its transport connections by road, rail, air, and water, which benefited not only Germany but the whole of Europe. This resulted in high demands on the transport and logistics market, which, however, strengthened the entire market. However, despite all the advantages, the "blue banana" also has some disadvantages. One of these disadvantages is that regions where infrastructure development was necessary were largely ignored, and regions outside the "blue banana" were given preference as soon as demand arose. This preference for stronger centers reinforced polarization, making the weaker centers even weaker. In addition, the spatial development model was adopted uncritically, even though certain regions had already developed their own momentum, which meant that these regions had to completely restructure themselves.
Overall, it can be said that the "blue banana" was a great advantage for already strong regions in Europe. Cologne, at the center of Europe's "blue banana," thus offers significant location advantages for businesses looking to settle there. Among those benefiting from this are data centers, logistics hubs, and company headquarters.
