Critical Infrastructure as an Instrument of Soft Power

04.09.2025

Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) took part in a round table on “Critical Infrastructure as an Instrument of Soft Power” yesterday, organized by the NATO Council of Montenegro at the Science and Technology Park. The event gathered experts from government, academia, the private sector, and civil society to reflect on the political and strategic importance of critical infrastructure (CI) in national security and stability.

Opening remarks by Dr. Savo Kentera (President, Atlantic Council of Montenegro) and Prof. Dr. Zoran Keković (Director, Centre for Critical Infrastructure Resilience, Atlantic Council of Montenegro) set the tone by underlining that CI is more than a technical matter – it is a cornerstone of sovereignty and a geopolitical issue.

Key themes included:
-New regulatory framework – Montenegro’s new Information Security Law, aligned with NIS2, mandates key and important CI entities to be ISO 27001 certified. Implementation of the new regulatory framework presents a big challenge and it requires a multi-disciplinary approach and involvement of all actors.
-Prof. Keković outlined three major risks for CI: 1) disruption of goods and services, 2) vulnerability due to state dependence on infrastructure, and 3) soft power – those who control CI can project their power in different ways.

Sectoral perspectives: Contributions came from @Dušan Polović (Ministry of Public Administration), Ljuban Tmušić (Directorate for Protection and Rescue, Ministry of Interior), Ivan Stanković (Čikom), Saša Šćekić (Central Bank of Montenegro).

Representing WB3C, Vanja Madzgalj MBE presented the Centre’s progress toward becoming an international organization and announced that our Centre is already working on capacity building for critical infrastructure with two focused courses in September, developed with Urad Vlade Republike Slovenije za informacijsko varnost (URSIV) on 9-11 Sep and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 22-26 Sep, both aimed at IT professionals in CI entities. Towards the end of the year, we will also offer a simulation exercises for CI and will extend our current cooperation with Čikom.

The round table also offered an opportunity to expand networks and explore future collaboration. Head of WB3C Gilles Schwoerer spoke with Savo Kentera about strong joint interest in strengthening CI in Montenegro and across the region. He also met with representatives of the health and maritime sectors who also constitute important pillars of CI. The conclusion of this discussion assured us that taking a sectoral approach is key to advancing critical infrastructure protection. By engaging each sector individually - energy, transport, finance, ICT, health and others, WB3C and its partners can address specific challenges, tailor training and exercises to operational realities, and ensure that solutions are both practical and sustainable.

Other news and events

Regional Workshop for Young Women Entering Cybersecurity Workforce

This week, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Center (WB3C) is buzzing with energy and ambition! In a powerful collaboration with our partners DCAF - Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, FIRST, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the British Council, WB3C is hosting a two-day regional workshop dedicated to 70 inspiring young women in ICT entering the cybersecurity workforce from across the Western Balkans. The journey began with inspiring opening remarks that set the tone for the days ahead given by:

Her Majesty's Ambassador Dawn McKen of the British Embassy Montenegro
Béatrice Godefroy, Deputy Director DCAF, who address the participants online from Geneva,
Gilles Schwoerer, Head of WB3C
Nina Lukic, Senior Programme Manager at the British Council

The event's host is Franziska Klopfer, DCAF Programme Director for Western Balkans and the mastermind behind the event.

These 70 ambitious young women are members of the British Council's #CybHER project network, and for the next two days, they are diving deep into the world of cybersecurity. Why does this matter?

Because the digital frontier needs their talent, perspective and skill. Cybersecurity isn't just about code and firewalls, it's about building a safer, more resilient world for everyone. And to do that effectively, we need diverse teams that reflect the society they protect.

Over these two days, the agenda is packed with action and inspiration:

✨ A motivating keynote from Mona Elisabeth Østvang of FIRST.

✨ Hands-on "Capture the Flag" challenges to test their technical skills.

✨ Inspirational presentations and testimonials from female cyber experts, showing them the incredible career paths that lie ahead.

✨ A panel on the "Meaningful Participation of Women in the Cybersecurity Workforce," turning discussion into action.

This is more than a workshop - it's a catalyst. It's about building a regional network of support, sparking curiosity and empowering the next generation of cyber defenders. These young women are not just the future; they are the urgently needed present of cybersecurity. Western Balkans needs these women leaders across technical and non-technical fields of cybersecurity.

Meeting with European partners

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) had the privilege of hosting a productive meeting with key European partners to discuss enhancing synergy in our collective efforts.

We were honored to be joined by:
• Ivan Leković, Cyber Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro
• Ms. Manon Le Blanc, Coordinator for Cyber Issues and Deputy Head of the Hybrid Threats and Cyber Division at the European External Action Service (EEAS)
• Mr. Hein Dries, Cyber Security Expert from the Council of Europe (CoE) / CILC
• Ms. Emily von Rheenen, Senior Project Manager at CILC, NL

The meeting was hosted by Gilles Schwoerer, Head of WB3C, and Vanja Madzgalj, Senior Project Manager, focusing on exchanging information on various cybersecurity initiatives across the region. The shared goal is to explore optimal models for cooperation and coordination, ensuring we maximize our collective impact in strengthening cyber resilience.

A sincere thank you to all participants for their valuable insights and commitment to a more secure and collaborative digital future for the Western Balkans.

Cybersecurity Awareness Program

We are continuing our good cooperation with URSIV - Republic of Slovenia Government Information Security Office and today, we launch a three-day Cybersecurity Awareness Program. This intensive training (3-6 November 2025) is intended for government officials, policy makers, cybersecurity officers in public institutions and critical infrastructure and IT and security managers across Western Balkans.

The program will provide practical knowledge on:
🔒 Building & evaluating internal cybersecurity awareness programs.
🤝 Establishing a national Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure (CVD) ecosystem.
📜 Understanding the key aspects of the NIS2 Directive transposition.

The participants were welcomed by Gilles Schwoerer, Head of WB3C and Igor Kovač, representing the Republic of Slovenia Government Information Security Office (URSIV).

A special thank you to our expert trainers from the Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate: Alina U., Diana-Alexandra Morea, Mihai Marica, Cristian Driga and Daniel I. for sharing their invaluable expertise.