WB3C Balkans Regional Conference

11.06.2024

On June 11-12 June, Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) hosted its first regional conference, a landmark event drawing over 100 professionals from the region's public administrations, international bodies, and local stakeholders. The conference, which featured four thematic panels, offered a platform to address the dynamic and pressing challenges in cybersecurity and cyber diplomacy.

Panel Overview:

Panel 1: Cyber Resilience and Critical Infrastructure

Chaired by Lt. Col. Yannick Ragonneau, the first panel set the tone for the conference, focusing on cyber resilience and the protection of critical infrastructure. Representatives from both government and private sectors, including experts from the French Ministry of Interiorand ArcelorMittal, discussed collaborative approaches and best practices for defending essential services and assets.

Panel 2: Evolution of Cybercrime Phenomena and International Criminal Assistance

Colonel Laurent Baille moderated a critical discussion on evolving cyber threats and the necessity of robust international cooperation. The panel highlighted effective strategies for international criminal assistance and the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to create a safer digital environment.

Panel 3: Artificial Intelligence and Ethics in Cybersecurity

Cyber Ambassador Vladimir Vucinic led the third panel, which delved into the impact of AI on global security, responsible usage, and the intertwined challenges of rapid technological advancement and privacy concerns. The dialogue underscored the importance of good data governance and strategic AI adoption in law enforcement and policymaking.

Panel 4: Navigating the Cyber Landscape Through Cyber Diplomacy

The final panel, guided by Tadej Rupel, Slovenia's Cyber and Digital Ambassador, explored the critical aspects of cyber diplomacy. Discussions focused on the EU's role, private sector engagement, and civil society’s contributions to fostering international cyber policy dialogues. This panel highlighted the essential role of entities like ENISA in capacity building and the increasing reliance on AI to support diplomatic efforts, especially for resource-constrained environments.

On Day 2, we focused on the application of the pre-diagnostic tool Diagonal, which was

donated to the Western Balkans administrations. The tool is designed to help administrations:

Assess cyber maturity: Understand the current level of cybersecurity within the administration.
Identify improvements: Suggest both human and technical areas for enhancement.
Collect data: Gather statistical information on prevalent cyber threats.

On 12 June, WB3C instructors provided a workshop to the representatives of the WB6 on the effective use of the tool and its features.

Summary:

The WB3C Regional Conference mapped out the landscape of cybersecurity challenges and opportunities in the Western Balkans. By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, the conference both provided valuable insights and proposed solutions to certain challenges, and it reinforced the necessity for continued dialogue and cooperation in the cyber domain underpinned by full commitment of governments towards creating a future proof cyber environment.

Other news and events

Building the Next Generation of Cyber Talent

Last week in Durres, Albania, 60 students from across the Western Balkans came together for the Western Balkan Cyber Camp 2025 - a dynamic, hands-on learning experience focused on building practical skills and regional collaboration in cybersecurity. The camp featured expert-led sessions, live cyber drills and exchanges with professionals from national CSIRTs, giving participants the chance to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios and deepen their understanding of today’s digital threats.
Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) was proud to support this important regional initiative, alongside Autoriteti Kombëtar për Sigurinë Kibernetike / National Cyber Security Authority, OSCE Presence in Albania, e-Governance Academy and GIZ Albania HR.

The WB3C delegation was led by Gilles Schwoerer, Head of WB3C, who emphasized our ongoing commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and investing in the next generation of cyber talent.

At WB3C, we see events like this as essential to creating a resilient digital future - by connecting people, sharing knowledge and empowering the cyber professionals of tomorrow.

France Ratifies International Agreement on WB3C

We are excited to share a significant milestone in the journey of the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre initiative. On 22 May 2025, the French Parliament ratified an international agreement that officially recognizes WB3C as an international organization. With this ratification, WB3C joins Slovenia and Montenegro in formalizing its status as a regional organization dedicated to strengthening cyber resilience of institutions and fostering cooperation across the Western Balkans.

This achievement marks a significant step forward in our mission to support the institutions of the Western Balkans through capacity-building and regional cooperation. It also makes WB3C the first international organization headquartered in Montenegro, underscoring the country's strategic importance in regional integration.

While the formal ratification is a major breakthrough, the journey continues as we work towards establishing the full operational framework of the organization. We remain committed to advancing our work and look forward to the next chapters of this exciting evolution.

We are deeply grateful to our partner governments, stakeholders and supporters whose dedication has brought us to this pivotal moment. Together, we are building a more stable, prosperous and interconnected Western Balkans.

Two days of sharing insight and collaboration

It was a privilege to welcome so many distinguished colleagues, partners, and new collaborators to the Cyber Capacity Building Workshop, jointly hosted by World Economic Forum Cybersecurity and Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) on 19-20 May .

The workshop brought together a remarkable group of cybersecurity professionals, policymakers and private sector leaders and educators for two days of focused discussions on issues: cyber talent shortage and international collaboration in disrupting cybercrime.

Mr. Marash Dukaj, Minister of Public Administration of Montenegro, who opened the event with a keynote, following the welcome speech by Gilles Schwoerer, Head of WB3C, emphasized the urgency of strengthening cyber capabilities across the Western Balkans. This was followed by insights from a high-level panel featuring:
-Dušan Polović, Ministry of Public Administration, Montenegro
-Ivan Boskovic, e-Commerce Association of Montenegro
-Jelena Zelenovic Matone, European Investment Bank, and
-Rob Rashotte, Fortinet (Canada),
who bring vast experience and knowledge from their global operations.
The panel was moderated by Natasa Perucica, World Economic Forum, Lead for capacity building at the WEF Cybersecurity Centre.

The programme continued in two parallel tracks:
🔹 Stream 1 focused on building and retaining cybersecurity talent, with speakers from Accenture, Check Point, Université de Troyes, Fortinet, National Cybersecurity Authority of Saudi Arabia, and the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

During the workshop, the World Economic Forum also presented two key publications that offer practical insights into developing the cybersecurity workforce:
Strategic Cybersecurity Talent Framework
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eZ9mFTyt
Growing Cyber Talent Through Public-Private Partnerships
🔗 https://lnkd.in/gQ8xczpM

Both publications highlight proven approaches, success stories and lessons from global partnerships that are highly relevant for the Western Balkans and beyond.
🔹 Stream 2 explored operational collaboration against cybercrime, with contributions from Europol EC3, Sekoia.io, Standard Chartered, and the World Economic Forum’s Cybercrime Atlas Initiative.
Across both streams, discussions were practical and constructive—examining the realities of cyber workforce shortages, the anatomy of current threats, and the importance of trust and cross-border cooperation.
Gilles Schwoerer, provided a brief overview of the Centre’s three pillars—cybersecurity, cybercrime, and cyberdiplomacy—emphasizing the importance of partnerships in advancing this collaborative effort.

A sincere thank you to all speakers, contributors, and participants for your openness and energy throughout the workshop. We are especially grateful to our partners at the World Economic Forum for their support in building cyber resilience of the Western Balkans.