ReSPA and the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Development Center are enhancing the digital security of public administrations in the Western Balkans through a three- day cyber hygiene training program

04.06.2024

Image for ReSPA and the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Development Center are enhancing
the digital security of public administrations in the Western Balkans through a three-
day cyber hygiene training program

In a major step towards strengthening cyber resilience and promoting a robust cybersecurity culture in the Western Balkans, the Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA) andthe Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) launched a three-day comprehensive Training for Trainers in Cyber Hygiene today at the University of Montenegro's Rectorate building.

The training aims to educate 17 senior public officials to become skilled trainers in cyber hygiene. Equipped with new knowledge and skills, these officials will be able to train their peers to better recognise and manage cybersecurity risks at the operational level.

Cybersecurity is not just a technical issue but a fundamental aspect of national security and public administration efficiency. Our collaborative efforts with our partners from the WB3C are significant steps towards a resilient cyber ecosystem in the Western Balkans. Understanding and adopting the skills in cyber hygiene across public administrations willstrengthen this first line of protection, and augmenting the number of civil servants practising it will enable their organisations to react promptly or recover swiftly if attacks occur. This training will result in having new trainers in public administration on cyber security, new resources for transferring the knowledge and ultimately achieving bigger digital security and resilience, underlined Olivera Damjanović, ReSPA Programme Manager.

Cedric Grousset, Head of the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre, emphasised the

importance of strong collaboration between the Centre and public institutions and partners,

including the Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro and ReSPA. He highlighted

the significance of a regional approach in training modules for civil servants.

Today, for the first time, we have gathered civil servants from the Western Balkans who work in cyber security to learn, exchange ideas, and advance in cyber hygiene and cyber security. More importantly, we will train them to become trainers, enabling them to further disseminate this knowledge to their peers across the region.

Dušan Polović, Director of the Directorate for Infrastructure, Information Security, Digitization, and e-Services in the Ministry of Public Administration, also addressed the participants, emphasizing the importance of continuously developing resilient cyber security structures in the Western Balkans. He noted that this three-day training is a crucial step in strengthening regional capacities in cyber security.

The training combines engaging lectures, in-depth skill acquisition, theoretical insights, and practical exercises on cyber hygiene. This approach will produce highly skilled trainers and advocates who understand the importance of preventative measures and effective cyber risk management.

Completing this training is a significant milestone in the region's journey towards improved cyber security. Since last year, ReSPA and WB3C have been collaborating on initiatives to support the public administration of the Western Balkans in data protection and cyber security.

The Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA) represents a distinctive, regionally- driven platform committed to advancing the reform of public administration (PAR) by fostering policy dialogue at the highest levels, sharing expertise, facilitating learning opportunities, fostering networking initiatives, promoting public sector mobility and capacity building, conducting topical research, and meticulously analysing policies.

Established as a collaborative initiative between the European Commission and the governments of the Western Balkans, ReSPA operates under the stewardship of five Member States: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, with Kosovo* benefitting from its programs.

With a primary focus on empowering civil servants, ReSPA endeavours to catalyse the development of modern, transparent, and efficient public institutions capable of effectively serving their citizens and facilitating the European integration process within the Western Balkans.

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Center (WB3C) is a regional cyber capacity-building initiative based in Montenegro. It is a training center focusing on fight against cyber crime, cyber security and cyber diplomacy. It aims at improving the cyber capacities and cyber resilience of the Western Balkans admistrations. Besides education and training for specialised groups of professionals and training for trainers WB3C promotes exchange of good practices, regional and international cooperation between administrative, technical and educational institutions.

France and Slovenia in partnership with Montenegro initiated this project in order to facilitate region’s approximation the EU membership.

Other news and events

Artificial Intelligence Applied to Law Enforcement

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) will host a training program on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applied to Law Enforcement Agencies from November 13th to 15th, 2024, at its premises in Podgorica. This training is designed for leaders in law enforcement, the judiciary, and data protection agencies, focusing on the potential applications and implications of AI within the field of internal security.

Across three days, participants will engage with six modules, covering topics such as the role of AI in the private sector, generative AI, ethics and regulatory considerations, and specific applications of AI for law enforcement. Attendees will gain insights into how AI can enhance investigative processes while addressing relevant ethical and regulatory challenges.

This course meets a strategic challenge defined by the AI Act to ensure that artificial intelligence systems (AIS) are used in a controlled and responsible manner.

The objectives of this course are

understanding how AI systems work
understanding the geopolitical and legal issues
defining an AI strategy dedicated to the LEA
AI applications for the protection of citizens
future prospects and challenges

The workshop will be led by two distinguished experts on artificial intelligence and robotics applied in homeland security, Dr. Ysens de France and Brigadier General Patrick Perrot. Their expertise will provide invaluable insights into the intersection of AI, law enforcement and national security, guiding discussions on the application of technology in homeland security and the fight against cybercrime.

This three-day training is organized for security officers and police investigators from the Western Balkans, highlighting the importance of continuous education and training of law enforcement officers in emerging technologies in order to keep up with the evolving threats in the digital space.

Dr. Ysens de France is a distinguished legal scholar specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) and military robotics, particularly in the realm of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS). She earned her doctorate in public law with a focus on the legal implications of autonomous military systems on the battlefield. Her research offers a forward-looking and interdisciplinary perspective on the challenges posed by technological advancements in defense.

In her professional career, Dr. de France has held several notable positions:

Professor of AI and Law: Since September 2020, she has been teaching at aivancity School for Technology, Business & Society in Paris-Cachan, where she imparts knowledge on AI and robotics law.
AI Mission Officer: Beginning in January 2022, she has served as an AI mission officer for the French National Gendarmerie, advising on the development and deployment of AI tools within the organization.
Lecturer in Digital Law: Since January 2022, she has been teaching digital law and AI law at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Dr. de France is also an expert member on AI and ethics at Hub FranceIA and serves as the Director of Prospective at the Institut Sapiens. Her extensive experience and research make her a leading authority on the intersection of law, AI, and military applications.

Brigadier General Patrick Perrot serves as the Coordinator for Artificial Intelligence and Data Strategy within the French Gendarmerie Nationale and as the AI Advisor to the Cyber Command at the Ministry of the Interior. Combining a strong academic background (PhD in AI) with extensive field experience, General Perrot has pioneered the application of AI in law enforcement, particularly in speaker and facial recognition and decision analysis, to enhance security and operational effectiveness. He is one of the architects of the AI strategy within the Gendarmerie Nationale, and his work continues to shape the integration of advanced technologies in national security.

In addition to his role in the Gendarmerie, General Perrot is:

An associate researcher at the Artificial and Natural Intelligence Toulouse Institute (ANITI), where he contributes to the Chair of Law, Accountability and Social Trust in AI, as well as to the Center for the Studies and Treatment of Radicalization.
The founder of the "AI and Security" Chair, which fosters cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior and universities and contributes to research on emerging security issues to prepare for the future.
A member of the EU AI Board Expert Committee, where he contributes to the application of the AI Act.
Co-chair of the EU Strategic Group on AI, which gathers 16 law enforcement agencies.

Additionally, General Perrot is active in several think tanks, serving as a member of the administration council of Hub France IA and as a security expert at the EUROP IA Institute.

Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace – International Norms and the Role of the EU in Cyberdiplomacy

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C), in partnership with the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), will be hosting a three-day workshop titled "Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace: International Norms and the Role of the EU in Cyberdiplomacy" from 12 to 14 November. This event brings together experts from across the region and the EU to explore critical aspects of cyberdiplomacy, focusing on international norms, the role of international law in cyberspace, and the European Union's efforts in fostering cyber cooperation.

Workshop Highlights:

Day 1: An in-depth exploration of the UN Framework on Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace, including key components such as UN norms, international law, capacity building, and confidence-building measures.
Day 2: A detailed examination of the EU’s cyber ecosystem and its collaborative efforts with the Western Balkans to enhance regional cybersecurity cooperation.
Day 3: A hands-on tabletop exercise simulating international cooperation and national coordination in response to a cyber incident.

Why Cyberdiplomacy Matters

As cyber threats continue to evolve, the importance of diplomatic engagement to establish rules of behavior in cyberspace has never been more crucial. Cyberdiplomacy plays a key role in preventing cyber conflicts, promoting trust between nations and ensuring a stable and secure digital environment. The European Union, with its robust cyber ecosystem and diplomatic efforts, is at the forefront of shaping these international norms.

WB3C is actively contributing to these efforts by providing a platform for regional and international cooperation, training and capacity-building. By hosting workshops such as this, WB3C strengthens the ability of Western Balkans countries to engage in global cyberdiplomacy and contribute to the development of a secure and resilient cyberspace.

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

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.