Regional Ministers Visit Paris Cyber Summit

02.06.2026

This week, a regional ministerial delegation from the Western Balkans, brought together by the Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro and Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C), joined global leaders at the Paris Cyber Summit 2026 to discuss the future of cybersecurity, digital transformation and international cooperation. The theme of this year's summit was The Transatlantic Reset: Rebuilding Trust and Strategic Alignment in the Digital Age — reflecting one of the defining questions of our time: how do we make sovereignties interoperable through trusted architectures, shared standards and common frameworks for innovation, security and market access?
Bringing together around 300 policymakers, industry leaders and cybersecurity experts from across the world, the Summit explored topics ranging from digital sovereignty and strategic regulation to the rise of Agentic AI and how the evolution of generative AI, automation and AI autonomy is redefining not only cybersecurity, but human agency itself.
Alongside the main programme, participants also engaged in the Provocative Lane, a Chatham House platform designed for closed-door discussions on some of today's most sensitive strategic and security challenges.
For the first time, a Western Balkans ministerial delegation participated in both tracks of the Summit. Minister of Public Administration of Montenegro Marash Dukaj delivered a keynote address highlighting the importance of regional cooperation in an era of growing hybrid threats that seek to undermine democratic institutions, societal resilience and the region's European path.
Minister of Digitalization and Public Administration of Kosovo Lulezon Jagxhiu, Minister of Digital Transformation of North Macedonia Stefan Andonovski and WB3C's programme director Gilles Schwoerer joined a NATO-led Chatham House discussion examining how cyber capabilities are increasingly shaping modern warfare and security policy.
Beyond the substance of the discussions, the Summit provided an important opportunity to bring the Western Balkans into the broader European and transatlantic conversation. At a critical moment in the EU accession process, the region's message was clear: the Western Balkans are not only seeking integration into European structures, but are ready to contribute actively to Europe's collective security. A secure Western Balkans means a more secure Europe.
Our sincere thanks to Sébastien Garnault, founder and president of the Paris Cyber Summit, and the chief of staff Marine Plasson whose support enabled meaningful engagement for the regional delegation throughout the week — from the Summit programme itself to strategic networking opportunities and the high-level round table hosted at the French Senate and the Campus Cyber.

Other news and events

WB3C welcomes Jean-Pierre Bonnet to its team

We are pleased to welcome Jean-Pierre Bonnet, who joins the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) as a trainer working primarily in the field of cybercrime, while also contributing to the Centre’s cybersecurity activities.

Jean-Pierre began his career in the French Gendarmerie, initially serving in a mobile unit responsible for public-order operations and overseas deployments. He later moved into criminal investigations, progressively specialising in cybercrime-related fields and, in his most recent assignment, working on complex investigations across France.

His professional experience includes open-source intelligence (OSINT), digital forensics and Internet investigations, alongside training and knowledge-sharing with partner administrations in France. He is also completing a long-term professional training programme in cybersecurity and governance, further broadening the expertise he brings to WB3C.

At the Centre, Jean-Pierre will work with partners across the Western Balkans to support the development of skills and operational knowledge in cybercrime, while contributing with the wider team to the continued development of WB3C’s activities.

Welcome to the team, Jean-Pierre!

Visit by CBRN Centres of Excellence Project 101

WB3C was pleased to meet with representatives of the EU CBRN Centres of Excellence Project 101 to discuss potential cooperation in strengthening critical infrastructure protection and security.
The exchange with Alexandre Custaud, EU CBRN CoE Project 101 Team Leader and Scott S. focused on possible synergies between cybersecurity, CBRN risk mitigation and broader critical infrastructure resilience. As threats to essential services become increasingly interconnected, cross-sector cooperation is essential to support more coordinated, practical, and future-oriented capacity building.
WB3C team Gilles Schwoerer and Maja Miranovic stressed that sectoral approach in building resilience for critical infrastructure is central in our 3-year EU funded programme and expressed readiness to explore areas where our respective expertise and regional engagement can contribute to stronger resilience and security.

Police officers complete demanding 15-month journey from investigator to digital forensics graduate

When fourteen police investigators recently graduated from WB3C's Digital Forensics programme delivered in partnership with the University of Technology of Troyes (UTT), the public saw the final result: internationally recognised diplomas, successful thesis defences and a new generation of specialised cybercrime investigators.

Less visible was the work that took place behind the scenes to get there.

For fifteen months, participants balanced full-time operational duties with a university-level programme requiring approximately 1,400 hours of study. While continuing to investigate cybercrime cases and fulfil their professional responsibilities, they attended classes, completed practical assignments, conducted research and prepared professional theses.

As the programme entered its final stage, WB3C and UTT intensified their support to help participants navigate one of the most demanding parts of the academic journey: the preparation and defence of their final papers.

Participants received detailed guidance on thesis writing, academic standards and defence procedures applied by UTT. Following the submission of their papers, mentors conducted individual reviews and provided detailed feedback, recommendations and improvement points. Students then worked through revisions and refinements before receiving final confirmation that their work met the required academic standards.

Throughout this process, mentors remained available for consultations, questions and individual support, ensuring that participants could successfully bridge the gap between operational expertise and academic requirements.

The final result was more than a successful examination. It demonstrated the determination of investigators who committed to a demanding programme while remaining on active duty, and the value of sustained mentorship and international cooperation in building specialised cybercrime capabilities.

The graduation of all fourteen participants stands as a testament not only to their professional competence, but also to the perseverance required to complete a rigorous university programme alongside the realities of modern law enforcement work.