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

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.