RCC CyberPulse 2025: Regional Stakeholder Join Forces in Cybersecurity

02.07.2025

The High-Level Western Balkans Cybersecurity Conference – CyberPulse 2025: Tracking Progress, Building Resilience, Driving Change – gathered government representatives, EU institutions, regional organizations, cybersecurity experts and private sector leaders to address the growing cyber threat landscape in the Western Balkans.

CyberPulse 2025 focused on three priorities:

addressing current gaps in regional cyber capacities,
exploring the role of emerging technologies, and
operationalising joint initiatives and partnerships.

Opening Remarks

The conference opened with high-level messages of commitment to regional cyber resilience:

Amer Kapetanović, Secretary General of the RCC, highlighted the sharp rise in cyber incidents and stressed that trust, political will and coordinated regional action are the strongest “firewall” against threats. He also announced the development of the new regional cybersecurity needs database.
Filip Ivanović, Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro for Foreign and European Affairs, emphasized Montenegro’s adoption of European cybersecurity standards and its vision of a secure, resilient digital future as part of EU integration.
Michael Docherty, speaking on behalf of the European Commission Delegation, reaffirmed EU support for the region through initiatives with ENISA and the Council of Europe, underlining that cybersecurity is now a central element of the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
Gilles Schwoerer, Head of WB3C, noted that while digital transformation offers many opportunities, it also expands the attack surface, underscoring the urgent need for secure digital pathways and collective resilience.

Conference Panels

High-Level Panel: Stronger Connectivity, Smarter Security, Resilient Future (moderated by Danijela Gačević, Head of the Programme Department, RCC)
Senior government representatives from the region exchanged views on national priorities, institutional capacities, and EU integration in the field of cybersecurity.
- Governments stressed the shortage of cybersecurity professionals as a critical challenge.
- Kosovo*’s representative emphasized dependence on external consultants and the need to train public servants internally.
- Montenegro focused on intersectoral cooperation and the role of NATO and EU support.
- North Macedonia presented its new Ministry for Digital Transformation and its national cybersecurity strategy.
  Panelists:
- Bardhyl Dobra – Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Pristina
- Naim Gjokaj – State Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Podgorica
- Radoslav Nastasijevikj Vardjiski – Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation, Skopje
Navigating Cyber Threats in the Western Balkans: The Evolving Role of AI and Emerging Technologies (moderated by Mirza Jamaković, Prosecutor's Office Sarajevo)
Experts from Europol, law enforcement, and the private sector discussed the opportunities and risks of AI, from forensic tools to the misuse of generative AI by organized crime groups.
- Europol described using machine learning to analyze millions of data points in criminal investigations.
- Concerns raised about organized crime groups developing their own AI tools, including large language models, for cybercrime.
- Calls for explainable and transparent AI outcomes in cybersecurity decision-making.
- Oracle warned against uploading confidential data into public AI tools, stressing regulatory gaps.
  Panelists:
- Emmanuel Kessler – Europol
- Jelena Zelenović Matone – WomenCyberForce / Women4Cyber
- Nenad Bogunović – Cybercrime Unit, Belgrade
- Amar Dedović – Oracle
Empowering Talent: Skill-Building for the Future in the Western Balkans (moderated by Andreja Mihailović, Women4Cyber Montenegro)
The session focused on education, workforce shortages, women’s participation in cybersecurity, and ways to redirect youth talent from informal digital activities to formal opportunities.
- Highlighted that women’s participation in cybersecurity remains below 20% in the Western Balkans.
- Croatia shared progress from 30% to 52% female participation in the UN Cybersecurity Working Group between 2019 and 2024.
- Albania’s Cybersecurity Agency argued for education reform starting at primary school.
- Open Society Foundation raised concerns about youth involvement in grey/illegal digital activities, calling for redirection into formal sectors.
  Panelists:
- Tamara Tafra – Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Zagreb
- Igli Tafa – Director, National Cybersecurity Agency, Tirana
- Andi Dobrushi – Open Society Foundation
- Fabio di Franco – ENISA
Integrating Experience and Strategy: A Multisector Dialogue on SOC Advancement (moderated by Vanja Madžgalj, WB3C)
Panelists shared good practices for building and operating Security Operations Centres, stressing the importance of policy alignment, inter-sectoral cooperation and trust-building between public and private actors.
Albania’s national experience showed that the 2022 cyberattack became a catalyst for building SOC capacity and adopting “zero trust” and defense-in-depth strategies.
Differences between public and private sector approaches to threat intelligence were emphasized, with trust and data-sharing seen as barriers for public institutions.
North Macedonia introduced a new law placing the Ministry for Digital Transformation as the central cybersecurity authority.
Panelists:
- Franc Zyliftari – Head of Incident Response Team, Tirana
- Philippe Gillet – Gatewatcher, Paris
- Aleksandar Acev – Cyber Balkans, Skopje
Sectors United Against Cyber Threats: Building Bridges Across Sectors (Milan Sekuloski, e-Governance Academy, Tallinn)
This discussion brought together public institutions, civil society, academia, and the private sector, highlighting how multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential to strengthening regional resilience.
- Pristina shared good practices in bringing all relevant actors together regularly on critical infrastructure protection.
- Civil society organizations were recognized as important but vulnerable actors requiring targeted cyber hygiene tools and support.
- SMEs were highlighted as particularly exposed, requiring systemic support from the public sector.
- The EBRD linked its investment strategy to cybersecurity, showing that infrastructure projects cannot be sustainable without integrated cyber risk management.
  Panelists:
- Lulezon Jagxhiu – Prime Minister’s Cabinet, Pristina
- Predrag Puharić – Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, Sarajevo
- Ivona Dabetić – NGO Secure, Podgorica
- Roy Yarom – European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

The conference concluded that cybersecurity in the Western Balkans can no longer be treated as a purely technical issue but must be recognized as a strategic priority, requiring long-term cooperation, sustained investment and coordinated regional action.

Other news and events

Police officers complete demanding 15-month journey from investigator to digital forensics graduate

When fourteen police investigators recently graduated from WB3C's Digital Forensics programme delivered in partnership with the University of Technology of Troyes (UTT), the public saw the final result: internationally recognised diplomas, successful thesis defences and a new generation of specialised cybercrime investigators.

Less visible was the work that took place behind the scenes to get there.

For fifteen months, participants balanced full-time operational duties with a university-level programme requiring approximately 1,400 hours of study. While continuing to investigate cybercrime cases and fulfil their professional responsibilities, they attended classes, completed practical assignments, conducted research and prepared professional theses.

As the programme entered its final stage, WB3C and UTT intensified their support to help participants navigate one of the most demanding parts of the academic journey: the preparation and defence of their final papers.

Participants received detailed guidance on thesis writing, academic standards and defence procedures applied by UTT. Following the submission of their papers, mentors conducted individual reviews and provided detailed feedback, recommendations and improvement points. Students then worked through revisions and refinements before receiving final confirmation that their work met the required academic standards.

Throughout this process, mentors remained available for consultations, questions and individual support, ensuring that participants could successfully bridge the gap between operational expertise and academic requirements.

The final result was more than a successful examination. It demonstrated the determination of investigators who committed to a demanding programme while remaining on active duty, and the value of sustained mentorship and international cooperation in building specialised cybercrime capabilities.

The graduation of all fourteen participants stands as a testament not only to their professional competence, but also to the perseverance required to complete a rigorous university programme alongside the realities of modern law enforcement work.

Advancing Cyber Resilience of Critical Entities through ISO 27001 Training

This week, at Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) we are running a three-day training on ISO/IEC 27001:2022, delivered in cooperation with our partner Čikom and led by its CISO and SOC Manager Mladen Bukilic.

As countries across the region advance their alignment with European cybersecurity requirements, organisations responsible for public services and critical functions face growing expectations to manage risks in a systematic and measurable way.
The training introduces participants to the principles of Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), covering topics such as risk assessment, security governance, incident management, internal audits and continual improvement. Through practical exercises and case studies, participants develop the tools needed to translate security requirements into organisational practice.
More than a compliance exercise, ISO 27001 provides a framework for protecting information assets, strengthening organisational resilience and building trust in an increasingly interconnected environment.
The activity is delivered within the regional project "Improving the Resilience of Critical Entities and the Protection of Public Spaces and Cyberspace against Security Threats in the Western Balkans", funded by the European Union.

WB3C and the Centre for Education of Judges and Prosecutors of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Deliver Cybercrime Training in Sarajevo

Following last week's cybercrime training for police officers in Banja Luka, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) continued its outreach programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina this week with a specialised training for prosecutors and judges in Sarajevo, 22-24 June 2026.

Delivered in cooperation with the Centre for Education of Judges and Prosecutors of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEST FBiH), the programme brought together judicial practitioners to strengthen their understanding of cybercrime, digital evidence, open-source intelligence (OSINT), blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies. Through a combination of expert-led sessions and practical exercises, participants explored the legal, procedural and evidentiary challenges that increasingly accompany cybercrime cases.

The Sarajevo training builds on the police-focused programme delivered in Banja Luka the previous week and forms part of a broader capacity-building effort developed jointly with institutions across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following extensive consultations with both the Centre for Education of Judges and Prosecutors of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ministry of Interior training structures in Republika Srpska, WB3C designed a tailored programme reflecting the specific needs and operational realities of the country's criminal justice system.

Cybercrime investigations require effective cooperation between investigators, prosecutors and judges. By supporting capacity development across the entire criminal justice chain, WB3C seeks to contribute to a more coordinated and effective response to cybercrime in Bosnia and Herzegovina.