Disinformation is taking an increasingly central place in the security agenda. It is a real and growing challenge that can weaken trust, influence democratic processes such as elections and exploit societal vulnerabilities through digital channels with massive reach. That is why WB3C is integrating this topic into its programme portfolio and launching a new training series for law enforcement agencies in the Western Balkans.

Yesterday, we launched Investigating Disinformation Training for Law Enforcement, bringing together practitioners from across the Western Balkans for a two-day operational training focused on detecting, assessing and responding to disinformation as a security threat.
Delivered with the support of Ronan Mouchoux from XRATOR, the training combines practical exercises, case-based learning and regional scenarios to help connect analysis with lawful and proportionate action.

At the same time, disinformation and FIMI cannot be addressed by one institution alone. While law enforcement has an important role, resilience depends on a whole-of-society approach — with cooperation across public institutions, the judiciary, media, civil society and education systems.
Strengthening this ecosystem is essential for protecting democratic processes, public trust and security across our region.

The Governing Board of the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C), meeting for its first session in Podgorica on 10 March 2026, elected Naim M. GJOKAJ as the Centre’s new Director General.
Mr. Gjokaj currently serves as State Secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro, a role he has held since December 2023. 
He brings extensive experience in public administration reform and regional cooperation, with a strong focus on digital transformation and institutional development. Mr. Gjokaj holds a degree in Banking from the Faculty of Financial Sciences at Marmara University in Istanbul, where he studied as a scholarship recipient of the Government of Turkey. 
His election marks an important step in the continued institutional development of WB3C following the Centre’s transition into an international organisation.
Mr. Gjokaj will be taking the position at the end of Q2, joinging our Programme Director Gilles Schwoerer in strengthening the institution’s foundations, deepening regional cooperation, expanding strategic partnerships and further consolidating WB3C’s role as a key regional platform supporting the EU integration and digital resilience of the Western Balkans. He will be working alongside our Programme Director Gilles Schwoerer in guiding the Centre’s strategic growth and programme development in the years ahead.

We warmly congratulate Director General-elect Naim Gjokaj and look forward to welcoming him to the WB3C team.

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.