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

Visit to RACVIAC, Zagreb

The WB3C Programme Director participated in the conference organised by RACVIAC in Zagreb, entitled “Strengthening SEE Resilience in Cyber Security Against Hybrid Threats.”
The mission provided an opportunity to present the Centre’s activities and discuss several potential areas of cybersecurity cooperation.

The areas under consideration include strengthening the cyber resilience of critical entities in the Western Balkans through NIS2 training and technical training aimed at addressing the skills gap in operational technology security, with priority given to young civilian and military talent.

They also include training on artificial intelligence and the implications of the European Union’s AI Act, the development of new cybersecurity curricula with universities and military academies in the region, and the possibility of providing cybersecurity training to military units in cooperation with RACVIAC.

Foreign Ministers of Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia visit WB3C on the margins of the Berlin Process

We were much honoured to host today at WB3C the Foreign Ministers of Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia, together with their delegations, following the Berlin Process Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Montenegro.
Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria, Petr Macinka, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and Juraj Blanár, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia were welcomed by Naim M. GJOKAJ, on behalf of the Government of Montenegro as one of WB3C’s founding partners, and Gilles Schwoerer, WB3C Programme Director. The visit was also attended by Minsiter Marash Dukaj and resident ambassadors of Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic in Montenegro.

Their visit gave us an important opportunity to show, first-hand, what WB3C has become and where it is heading.
After a tour of our facilities, we presented the Centre’s mission and work across cybersecurity, cybercrime, cyber diplomacy and hybrid threats, as well as the partnerships that make this regional model possible. Particular attention was given to our cooperation with the European Union, including the EU-supported regional programme, and to the growing network of European and international institutions contributing expertise to our activities.
What matters most is the purpose behind this work.
WB3C was created to give the Western Balkans a permanent facility where countries can build capability together: strengthening public institutions and critical entities, supporting law enforcement and the judiciary, developing the skills of the existing workforce and investing in the next generation through cooperation with universities.

Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic are closely engaged in the European integration of the Western Balkans, while the Berlin Process continues to place regional cooperation, security and the region’s European future at the centre of the agenda.
For WB3C, the longer-term direction is equally clear: a Centre increasingly shaped, supported and governed by the Western Balkans themselves, firmly connected to European institutions, standards and expertise.
We greatly appreciated the ministers’ interest in our work and the opportunity to present the role WB3C can play in making regional cooperation in cyber security practical, lasting and genuinely owned by the region.

Advanced Cyber Threat Intelligence training at WB3C

This week, WB3C hosted an Advanced Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) training in Podgorica, delivered by Ljuban Petrovic for SOC, CSIRT, CERT and IT professionals from critical entities across the Western Balkans.
Building on the foundational CTI course delivered earlier this year, the four-day programme goes further into advanced threat hunting, Threat Intelligence Platforms and automation, threat actor profiling and attribution, the MITRE ATT&CK framework, strategic reporting and hands-on work with MISP.
The aim is to help practitioners move from collecting technical threat data to producing actionable intelligence that supports detection, incident response and decision-making, while strengthening information sharing between national and regional CERT/CSIRT structures.
We are especially pleased to see more women then men in this training, which encourages us that our region is slowly breaking cultural barriers and biases.