Visit of the Slovenian Ministry of Defense Delegation to the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C)

12.11.2024

A delegation from the Slovenian Ministry of Defense, led by Roland Žel, General Director of the Directorate for Defence Policy, during their official visit to Montenegro, took the opportunity to visit the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) and gain a deeper understanding of its mission and operations. WB3C, a collaborative initiative founded by Slovenia, France and Montenegro serves as a vital platform for enhancing regional cyber resilience and fostering stronger regional and international cooperation in the fields of security and defense.

The delegation was welcomed by Ambassador Tadej Rupel, Slovenia’s Cyber Ambassador and Lieutenant Yannick Casse, Acting Program Director of WB3C, who delivered a detailed presentation on the Centre’s ongoing activites. Their remarks highlighted the crucial role that capacity building and cybersecurity and defense policy coordination play in reinforcing the resilience of the region, especially in light of increasing global cyber threats.

The visit also included distinguished officials from both Slovenia and Montenegro, including Radmila Perović, Acting Director of Defence Policy, Ministry of Defense of Montenegro, Colonel Ivan Turšnek, Slovenian Defence Attaché in Montenegro, Lieutenant Colonel Veljko Mališić, Defence Attaché of Montenegro to Slovenia and other officials from the Ministries of Defence of both countries.

The discussions reinforced the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing common challenges and advancing the security of the Western Balkans.

Other news and events

Cyber Training for Judges and Prosecutors

WB3C has successfully concluded a three-day training programme designed to strengthen the capacities of local judges and prosecutors in addressing cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime.

Delivered by WB3C’s in-house trainers, the programme provided participants with a solid foundation to better understand, manage and process complex digital cases.

The training was structured into four thematic blocks:

Typology of cybercrime
Digital evidence collection
Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)
Introduction to cryptocurrencies

This activity is part of WB3C’s ongoing efforts to support the judiciary in building the necessary knowledge and tools to respond to evolving cyber threats.

OSINT Training for Law Enforcement

Today, Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) launched a specialized training program designed to equip law enforcement professionals from the Western Balkans with practical skills in open-source intelligence (OSINT) and digital investigations. The training is being led by Brigadier Chief Cyril C. of the French National Police, WB3C's in-house trainer, whose extensive expertise ensures participants gain valuable insights grounded in real-world investigative experience.

The program combines theoretical learning with practical exercises, enhancing participants' ability to identify threats, gather digital evidence in lawful ways and support informed decision-making.

The training will address critical aspects of digital evidence preservation, security checks to prevent data leaks, and safe navigation of the darknet.

Additionally, participants will develop skills in data collection and metadata analysis to extract valuable insights from publicly available information.
This initiative is designed for English-speaking law enforcement officers, particularly those attending WB3C training for the first time, reinforcing their capacity to address emerging digital threats.

European People's Party Visit to WB3C

Yesterday, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from the European People's Party, led by Minister of Energy and Mining, Admir Sahmanovic accompanied by State Secretary of the Ministry for Public Administration Dragisa Janjusevic and Aleksandar M. Andjic, Montenegro's National Coordinator for WB3C.

Director of WB3C, Gilles Schwoerer, along with Katarina Zajec, Minister Counsellor at the Slovenian Embassy in Podgorica, greeted the delegation. They provided a tour of our facilities and presented an overview of WB3C's mission and ongoing initiatives. In addition, our cybercrime experts introduced the guests to WB3C's cyber investigations curriculum, highlighting how we are equipping participants with practical skills to address real-world cybercrime challenges.

During the visit, our guests expressed interest in learning more about WB3C’s partnerships and shared ideas on how these collaborations could be further leveraged with EU stakeholders to support cybersecurity efforts in the region. Their insights contributed to a productive and friendly exchange, reinforcing the importance of strong partnerships in advancing regional cyber resilience.