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WB3C Officially Becomes an International Organization

11.03.2026

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Yesterday, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) reached a major milestone in its institutional journey.

At the first meeting of its Governing Board, representatives of France, Slovenia and Montenegro came together to mark a new chapter for the Centre, with the signing of the Headquarters Agreement formally confirming WB3C as the first international organization headquartered in Podgorica. The appointed members of the Governing Board, H.E. Anne-Marie Maskay and Gen. Stephane Richou for France, iztok jarc and Uroš Svete for Slovenia and Ivan Lekovic and Aleksandar Zecevic for Montenegro, held the first inaugural session to adopt internal documents, while the Programme Director Gilles Schwoerer presented the achievements of the Centre in 2025 and the ambitious plan for 2026.

The event was honoured by the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic, Minister of Public Administration Marash Dukaj, French and Slovenian Ambassadors to Montenegro Anne-Marie Maskay and bernarda gradišnik, representatives of the EU Delegation and the diplomatic corps in Montenegro and our institutional partners, reflecting the strong support behind WB3C’s mission to serve as a regional platform for cyber capacity building, cooperation and resilience.

During the official addresses of the high representatives of the founding members, we heard the reassuring words of unwavering support to the region's European future and WB3C's mission in supporting the region on this path through strengthening its resilience against cyber and hybrid threats.

Beyond the formal ceremony, the day also offered a meaningful reminder of what this institution is ultimately about: investing in people, knowledge and the region’s future. On this occasion, General Stéphane Richou, Director of Security and Defense Cooperation at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Direction de la Coopération de Sécurité et de Défense DCSD 🇫🇷) visited the first class of the Cybersecurity Diploma Course, engaging with participants who represent the next generation of cyber professionals in the Western Balkans.

Taken together, yesterday’s events stood as a powerful testament to a shared commitment to regional cooperation, European values and a more secure digital future.


Image for Regional Conference on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference and Disinformation
Upcoming
Regional Conference on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference and Disinformation

This regional conference intended for governments, media and civil society brings diverse perspectives on the growing hybrid threats of fake news, disinformation, manipulative and malign narratives that have the power to undermine democratic processes, trust in media and institutions and overal societal resilience and cohesion. Understanding, detecting, preventing, responding, debunking, investigating and prosecuting such manipulations will be the task of our panels, case studies and interactive exercises aimed at supporting governemnts and societies to tackle this challenge. The conference will feature 30 prominent speakers from the EU and the WB region from various departments, sectors and industries. 

CTI for Critical Infrastructure Training Completed

Last week at WB3C, we wrapped up a four-day training on Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) focused on the energy sector and government infrastructure, led by Ljuban Petrovic.

Working with SOC, CSIRT and CERT teams from across the region, the training reinforced a simple point: CTI only matters when it informs decisions. When it helps prioritise. When it changes how teams prepare and respond.
The sectoral focus proved its value. Energy infrastructure comes with its own risk landscape, and the discussions reflected that reality—specific, operational, and directly relevant.

We are continuing this work in September, building on what started here.
Because strengthening resilience is not a one-off effort. It is something that develops over time, through practice, exchange, and trust. 

What is Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) — and why does it matter?

Simply put, CTI is about turning information into insight, before a threat happens.

Not just collecting data on threats, but understanding who is behind them, how they operate, and what that means for your own systems.
Without that understanding, cybersecurity remains reactive. With it, organisations can anticipate, prioritise and respond with purpose.

Next week at WB3C, we will be running a four-day regional training on Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI).
The training is designed for SOC, CSIRT and CERT teams, as well as IT professionals working within critical entities—specifically the energy sector. The choice is deliberate.

We are taking a sectoral approach to cybersecurity capacity building. Because threats are not abstract—they target specific systems, infrastructures and vulnerabilities. And the energy sector, as a backbone of economic and societal stability, requires tailored, operationally relevant skills that reflect its real risk landscape.
Over four days, participants will cover:
💡 understanding CTI in the context of critical infrastructure
💡 analysing threats and assessing their impact
💡 translating intelligence into actionable outputs

All week, we will be working closely with cybersecurity professionals from across the region’s energy sector—moving from concepts to application, and building capabilities that can directly support operational decision-making.
This is where CTI becomes operational. Protecting our energy infrastructure means protecting our economy, our security and our livelihood.

Image: Patrick https://lnkd.in/diYnZEgB


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Disclaimer: Translations of the original content written in English into other languages are AI generated by Weglot.