WB3C was pleased to take part in the discussion organised by the EU Institute for Security Studies and EU Cyber Direct – EU Cyber Diplomacy Initiative on “Europe Connected and Secure: Leveraging cyber and digital capacities in enlargement countries,” held in Brussels on 12 March.
The workshop brought together representatives from the Western Balkans, EU institutions and partners from Ukraine to assess common cyber threats, institutional realities, and the role that digital resilience can play in strengthening Europe’s neighbourhood security.
For WB3C, it was a valuable opportunity to exchange perspectives with colleagues from the WB6 partners, DG ENEST, DG CONNECT, ENISA, EEAS and other stakeholders working to support the EU enlargement agenda through stronger cyber and digital capacities.

Two ideas emerging from the discussion that our Programme Director Gilles Schwoerer engaged in are particularly important for us and will guide WB3C’s work in the coming months:
• A regional cyber diplomacy initiative, to be developed together with EU Cyber Direct, which WB3C aims to host in the second half of the year.
• A structured dialogue with universities across the region, to explore how practice-based cyber modules developed at WB3C can complement and strengthen existing or emerging Master’s programmes in cybersecurity.

Developing talent and building institutional capacity remain central to the region’s digital future. WB3C looks forward to continuing this conversation with partners across the region and the EU.

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.

Last week, we officially launched the Cybersecurity University Diploma Course, welcoming a new cohort of 14 talented IT students from the Western Balkans.
Over the past months, many of them went through demanding preparation and pre-selection phases. Now the programme truly begins.
This one-year academic diploma, delivered by the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre in partnership with the Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT), represents something much bigger than a 1-year training programme. It is an investment in the region’s long-term cyber talent pipeline.
The diploma carries 60 ECTS credits and may lead to a Bachelor’s degree through UTT, once prior academic credits are validated. This means that students from the Western Balkans are not only gaining technical skills — they are building qualifications that are recognized within the European higher-education framework.
The programme is designed to produce work-ready cybersecurity practitioners. Through lectures, hands-on labs, case studies, Capture-the-Flag exercises and a professional internship, participants will develop skills in:
• Secure systems and network administration
• Cryptography and data protection
• Secure software development and auditing
• Penetration testing and cybersecurity assessments
• Incident detection, SOC monitoring and digital forensics
• EU cybersecurity law, regulation and professional ethics
By the end of the programme, participants will be prepared for entry-level roles such as:
• Security Administrator
• SOC Analyst
• Junior Penetration Tester
• Digital Forensics Technician
• Cybersecurity Auditor

The course is taught by professors from UTT — a leading French institution in applied cybersecurity education — including Reza Elgalai, expert in digital forensics and cybersecurity, and Ljuban Petrovic, a recognized cybersecurity expert with extensive academic and industry experience.
Equally important, participants will complete professional internship in public administration, academia or private sector organisations across the region, ensuring that knowledge gained in the classroom translates directly into operational capability.
Cybersecurity skills shortages are one of the most critical challenges facing Europe today. Building these capacities requires sustained investment in education, mentorship and real-world training.
This programme is one step toward ensuring that the Western Balkans develops the next generation of cybersecurity professionals able to protect institutions, economies and citizens in the digital age.
We look forward to following the journey of this first cohort.