WB3C and Regional Ministers participate in a Round Table at the French Senate

01.06.2026

How do we build cyber resilience in a region facing accelerating digital transformation, growing geopolitical pressures and an increasingly complex threat landscape?
This was the central question of the high-level round table hosted at the French Senate as part of the Western Balkans Ministerial Visit to the Paris Cyber Summit organized jointly by WB3C and the Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro.
Bringing together ministers and senior government representatives from across the Western Balkans, the discussion highlighted a new reality: besides protecting networks and critical infrastructure, cybersecurity is critical for protecting our democracy and society as a whole, our institutions, economic development, public trust and our European future.
Opening the discussion, Senator Olivier Cadic framed cybersecurity as a challenge of "permanent threat", ranging from cyberattacks and ransomware to foreign information manipulation and interference. He also reaffirmed France's strong support for the European future of the Western Balkans.
Gilles Schwoerer presented WB3C's role in strengthening regional cyber capacities, operational cooperation and interoperability, while Vanja Madzgalj MBE, as the moderator of the discussion, set the strategic context around digitalisation, geopolitics and EU accession.
While each country brought its own perspective, several common themes emerged. Minister Marash Dukaj stressed the importance of turning legislative alignment into operational readiness. Minister Lulezon Jagxhiu highlighted secure digitalisation and regional cooperation. Minister Stefan Andonovski emphasised implementation and stronger integration into European digital initiatives, while Deputy Minister Enkelejda Muçaj shared lessons learned from Albania's experience following the 2022 cyberattacks.
The strongest takeaway was clear: alignment with European standards remains essential, but resilience ultimately depends on operational preparedness, trusted partnerships and the ability to act together when incidents occur.
Equally clear was the message that the Western Balkans are ready not only to receive support, but to contribute actively to Europe's collective security. A secure Western Balkans means a more secure Europe. The round table was attended by 50 policy makers and industry leaders from around the world.

Our sincere thanks to Senators Olivier Cadic and Ludovic HAYE, Sébastien Garnault and the Paris Cyber Summit team and to the Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro for joining WB3C in the initiative to convene and lead this important regional engagement ahead of the EU–Western Balkans Summit tomorrow. We also thank DG ENEST and Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) for joining us in Paris.

Other news and events

Upcoming

Disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Capacity Building Workshops

Programme

📅 30 November – 1 December 2026
📍 Science and Technology Park, Podgorica, Montenegro
🏛️ Conference Hall Unicorn, 2nd floor

Context: Building on WB3C’s May 2026 regional conference, these workshops examine how governments, media and other stakeholders can anticipate, prevent and respond to malign information operations. Sessions combine strategic perspectives with practical approaches to threat detection, crisis coordination, reporting and AI-enabled information manipulation. The programme is provisional and still subject to change.
Audience: Government strategic communications officials, cybersecurity leadership, journalists, media regulators, fact-checkers and civil society organisations.
Working language: English (no simultaneous interpretation).
Chatham House Rule: The workshops will be held under the Chatham House Rule, providing a safe space for an open dialogue.

Funding: The event is organised under the EU-funded project “Improving the resilience of critical entities and the protection of public spaces and cyberspace against security threats in the Western Balkans” (2026–2028). This event is also supported by Poland, Norway, United Kingdom and France, through their diplomatic missions in Podgorica and Belgrade.

DAY 1 – Monday, 30 November 2026

☕ 08:30–09:00 | ARRIVAL
Registration and welcome coffee

🕘 09:00–09:30 | OPENING REMARKS
• WB3C
• Ministry for European Affairs of Montenegro
• EU

🎙️ 09:30–10:00 | MODERATED POLICY DIALOGUE
Montenegro at the Crossroads: Safeguarding Its Democracy and European Future in an Era of Hybrid Threats
• Biljana Papović — State Secretary, Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro
• Todor Goranović — Defence and Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Montenegro

Moderator: Matthew Booth, UK

🕘 10:00–10:45 | EXPERT SESSION
The Agents of Chaos: The Shadow Campaign Against the West
• Maciej Bukowski — Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Poland

☕ 10:45–11:15 | COFFEE BREAK

🕚 11:15–12:00 | EXPERT SESSION
From Detection to Decision: How VIGINUM Feeds Government Crisis Management During Hybrid Campaigns
•VIGINUM — France’s service for vigilance and protection against foreign digital interference

🕐 12:00–13:00 | MODERATED DISCUSSION
The AI Disinformation Battlefield: New Weapons, New Threats, New Defences – and the Fight for Public Trust
• Dr. Raphaël-David Lasseri — Magic LEMP, France
• Henrik Vold — Norwegian Institute of Journalism, Norway
• Eirik Veum — Norwegian Police Security Service (PST), Norway
• Dr. Daniel Schroeder — SINTEF Digital, Norway
Moderator: Dr. Ingrid Vik, Director UTSYN, Centre for Security and Resilience, Norway

🍽️ 13:00–14:00 | LUNCH

🕑 14:00–14:30 | EXPERT SESSION
Geopolitical shifts and impact on the Western Balkans
• Jamie Tarabay — Crumpton Global, USA

🕑 14:30–15:15 | EXPERT SESSION
Coordination and decision making during an ongoing hybrid assault
• Matthew Booth — FCDO, United Kingdom

🕒 15:15–16:30 | EXPERT SESSION
Modern Information Warfare: The Global Strategy to Destabilise the Western Balkans
• David Colon — Sciences Po, France

🎤 16:30–17:00 | QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE

DAY 2 – Tuesday, 1 December 2026

🛠️ 08:00–09:30 | CLOSED WORKSHOP

• David Colon — France
• Matthew Booth — United Kingdom

🕙 10:00–12:00 | ROOM 1: WORKSHOP FOR GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
From Detection to Institutional Response

• David Colon — Sciences Po, France
• VIGINUM — France
• Dr. Raphaël-David Lasseri — Magic LEMP, France

Context: Government institutions may detect suspicious activity without a clear process for assessing significance and mobilising a response.

Objective: Practise moving from initial indicators and analytical findings to an institutional assessment, escalation decision and coordinated response.

🕚 10:00–12:00 | ROOM 2: WORKSHOP FOR MEDIA AND CIVIL SOCIETY
Verification of an AI-Amplified Information Operations

• Henrik Vold — Norwegian Institute of Journalism, Norway
• Eirik Veum — Norwegian Police Security Service (PST), Norway
• Dr. Daniel Schroeder — SINTEF Digital, Norway

Context: Synthetic content, coordinated amplification and misleading claims complicate verification under time pressure.

Objective: Apply verification and source-assessment methods to a simulated information operation, distinguishing evidence, uncertainty and responsible reporting.

☕ 12:00–13:00 | LUNCH

🧩 13:00–14:30 | WORKSHOP FOR GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
Crisis decisions under pressure
• Maciej Bukowski — Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Poland
Practical tabletop exercise.

🧩 13:00–14:30 | WORKSHOP FOR MEDIA AND CIVIL SOCIETY
Editorial judgement during a hybrid crises (TBC)
• Jamie Tarabay — Crumptom Global, USA
Practical tabletop exercise.

🍽️ 14:30–15:00 | COFFEE BREAK

🛠️ 15:00–16:30 | PLENARY WORKSHOP
Government-Media Crisis Coordination Simulation

• Matthew Booth — FCDO, UK

DAY 3 – Wednesday, 2 December 2026

🛠️ Time TBC | UNIVERSITY GUEST LECTURES

• Maciej Bukowski — Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Poland
• Jamie Tarabay — Crumpton Global LLC
University of Donja Gorica, Faculty of Humanities

NB. To register for the conference please use this LINK or contact vanja.madzgalj@wb3c.org. The number of seats is limited.

This event will be photographed. Please read our Privacy Policy on the Registration Form.

To download the programme and the speakers bios, go to the top of the page.

From Open Sources to Investigative Intelligence: Advanced OSINT

Open-source intelligence is increasingly central to modern cyber investigations. But finding information is only part of the challenge. Knowing how to investigate securely, connect findings and turn fragmented data into actionable intelligence is what makes the difference.

On 10–11 November, WB3C is hosting a two-day advanced OSINT training in Podgorica, bringing together specialists from cybercrime units and judicial investigative services across the Western Balkans.

Delivered by Nicolas De Rycke and Jean-Pier Bonnet JP BNT, the practical training introduces participants to elephantastici io, an advanced investigative platform, with a focus on:
✅ Operational security during online investigations
✅ Advanced search capabilities and intelligence gathering
✅ Exporting findings for investigative reports and case files
✅ Building logical investigation maps to connect evidence and trace research activities
The training also brings together professionals who have completed WB3C's recent Train-the-Trainers programme, providing an opportunity to deepen their technical expertise and explore tools that can support their investigative work.
The focus is on practical application: giving investigators the tools and techniques to work more effectively, securely and systematically in an increasingly complex digital environment.

Selection underway for the next generation of cybersecurity diploma programme

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C), in partnership with the Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT), France, is preparing to welcome the next generation of participants to its one-year Cybersecurity Diploma Programme, starting in February 2027.
The selection process is already underway, reflecting strong regional interest in advanced cybersecurity education:
🧑‍🎓 23 candidates from across the Western Balkans applied.
🧑‍🎓 17 candidates successfully passed the first pre-selection examination.
🧑‍🎓 13 November marks the next stage, with candidates taking a second entrance examination.

The programme places hands-on training and practical experience at the heart of its curriculum with a view of equipping participants with the technical skills and operational competencies needed to address real-world cyber threats, making them job-ready for the most in-demand entry level jobs.

Through its partnership with UTT, WB3C is helping bridge the gap between academic knowledge and operational readiness, developing a new generation of skilled cybersecurity professionals capable of strengthening cyber resilience across the Western Balkans.