Official Inauguration of the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C)

09.12.2024

WB3C - a powerful symbol of what can be achieved when countries unite to tackle shared challenges

Yesterday marked a significant milestone in the cybersecurity landscape of the Western Balkans with the official inauguration of the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) in Podgorica. The event celebrated a shared commitment of our founding partners to strengthening regional cyber resilience, advancing cooperation and aligning with European standards.

The inauguration was attended by over 100 distinguished guests, including government officials, diplomats, representatives of international organizations and academia. Among the key speakers were the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Mr. Spajić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović, Minister of Public Administration Dukaj, Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon, and French Special Envoy for the Western Balkans René Troccaz. Their remarks highlighted the shared belief in the importance of collective action to address evolving cyber threats.

Prime Minister Spajić said: "Our Centre, recognized within the Berlin Process, plays a crucial role in enhancing cybersecurity capacities in the region. With the expertise of France and Slovenia, and the inclusion of all Western Balkan countries, I firmly believe we can significantly advance our regional cybersecurity capabilities."

Minister Ibrahimović emphasized the symbolic and practical value of the Centre: “The WB3C is a unique project with special symbolism—it demonstrates our commitment to creating a secure digital environment and addressing modern challenges. It also reflects the importance of aligning with European standards while fostering regional cooperation, which is critical for our shared future.”

Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister Tanja Fajon highlighted WB3C’s role in fostering unity: “This Centre represents a cornerstone of our efforts to strengthen cooperation within the Western Balkans and build a safer, more secure digital environment for all. By bringing together expertise, resources, and a shared vision, WB3C exemplifies how we can overcome challenges and seize opportunities together.”

French Special Envoy René Troccaz underscored the role of solidarity in building resilience: “Cyber resilience through solidarity is the best way to protect our economies, societies, and institutions from destabilizing threats. WB3C is a testament to the power of collaboration, and I am confident that its work will continue to strengthen the region’s capabilities.”

Minister Dukaj pointed to the practical outcomes of WB3C’s initiatives: “Through its training programs, WB3C ensures that our region is equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to address the rapidly evolving threats in cyberspace. This Centre will not only enhance individual expertise but also foster regional unity and cooperation in the face of shared challenges.”

WB3C’s Director, Yannick Casse expressed his pride in the team and the collaborative spirit driving the Centre’s mission: “With our friends from Slovenia, France, and Montenegro, and the dedicated team here in Podgorica, we are more than a team; we are the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre. Together, we are building a legacy of resilience and innovation.”

A Year of Impact and Ambitious Plans Ahead

Over the past year, WB3C has already demonstrated its value to the region, providing training to over 400 professionals across cybersecurity, cybercrime and cyber diplomacy. These programs are not just about building technical skills—they aim to create connections, foster trust, and prepare the region to face the complex cyber threats of tomorrow.

Looking ahead, WB3C has set ambitious goals for 2025-2027. The Centre plans to train up to 1,500 professionals and is collaborating with the University of Technology of Troyes to establish a university qualification program in Digital Forensics. This program will empower cybercrime investigators to deepen their expertise, ensuring that the region remains at the forefront of addressing modern cybercrime challenges.

Symbolizing a New Phase

The formal unveiling of the WB3C plaque symbolized the beginning of a new chapter in the region’s efforts to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities, deepen cooperation and align with European standards.

By advancing regional resilience and fostering alignment with EU priorities, WB3C plays a pivotal role in supporting the Western Balkans’ integration into the European Union. As the Centre continues its work, it stands as a testament to what can be achieved through commitment, collaboration and a shared vision for a secure digital future.

Other news and events

Protection of Critical Infrastructure Training for IT teams

Three days of intensive training (9-11 Sep 2025) on the protection of critical infrastructure wrapped up in Podgorica this week at the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) premises. The training explored vulnerabilities of critical systems such as energy, transport, healthcare and water supply, and delivered practical sessions on risk management, ICS/OT security and incident response. This program brought together IT officers from across the Western Balkans public sector.
The highlight of the final day was a Capture the Flag (CTF) challenge, where participants applied the response skills in a competitive but collaborative setting. A special moment worth noting: first and third place went to women participants (from Albania and Kosovo*). This shows the strength of diverse teams and why we remain committed to encouraging more women in cybersecurity.
We thank our excellent partners Urad Vlade Republike Slovenije za informacijsko varnost (URSIV, Slovenia), Igor Kovač and Gregor Spagnolo for delivering such high-level expertise and engaging sessions.
The training closed with a certificate ceremony and closing remarks by Gilles Schwoerer, with lots of smiles, great vibes and a strong sense of community.

EU Legislation and Public Sector Standards for Cyber

This week in Bar, Montenegro, DCAF - Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance and Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA) and Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) jointly delivered a three-day regional training on cybersecurity legislation and public-sector standards.
The event gathered representatives from across the Western Balkans’ public administrations — an opportunity to connect networks, exchange practices, and strengthen a common regional approach to cybersecurity capacity. The programme was funded by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with Melanie Moffat from the British Embassy Podgorica attending the training.

Day 1 opened with remarks from Franziska Klopfer (DCAF) and Gilles Schwoerer (Head of WB3C). In his opening address, Gilles underlined that WB3C is not just a centre in Podgorica, but a regional platform designed as a resource for the entire Western Balkans — built for the region, to be used by the region. The day continued with sessions on EU legislation and certification frameworks, including insights into Italy’s cybersecurity architecture and the functions of the Italian National Cybersecurity Agency (Agenzia per la Cybersicurezza Nazionale).
🔹 Day 2 brought a broader audience, as more participants from the ReSPA network joined. Bojana Bajić (ReSPA) joined Franziska and Gilles in addressing the group, stressing the importance of cooperation across institutions in the process of advancing cybersecurity capabilities and aligning normative frameworks with EU standards. Participants then heard from the National Cybersecurity Authority of Greece, explored digital competencies for public administration, and worked on designing cybersecurity training curricula for civil servants, IT staff, and managers.
🔹 On Day 3, the sessions will turn to national practices, with contributions from Serbia’s National Academy for Public Administration and the Civil Service Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, offering concrete models for embedding cybersecurity into public administration training systems.
Together with DCAF and ReSPA, and with the support of FCDO, this training strengthened the foundations for a more resilient public sector across the Western Balkans, aligned with the region’s needs and EU accession priorities.

Building relationships with regional institutions

Strengthening regional cybersecurity capacity starts with strong relationships. At Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C), we prioritise working closely with our beneficiaries and stakeholders across the Western Balkans.
To that end, we continue our regional outreach, meeting our partners in person to better understand their priorities and explore opportunities for cooperation.
This time, our trainers Yannick Casse and Cyril C. visited Prishtina and Skopje, where they met with key counterparts from the Ministries of Interior and Justice. The visit highlighted concrete prospects for future collaboration.
Synergies were also identified with UNDP Kosovo* (OSINT, Dark Web training) and Home Affairs Programme of European Union (HAPE) in Kosovo*, further expanding the scope for joint work.
While the majority of WB3C training activities are delivered from our Podgorica Centre, we remain open to relocating select trainings across the region upon request.

Through this outreach, WB3C ensures its training offer remains flexible and tailored to the evolving needs of our beneficiaries across the region.