Events

Gilles Schwoerer represented WB3C this week in Prague at the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) Regional Development Forum for Europe, hosted by the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade.
In a session on Partner2Connect matchmaking, the focus was clear: how to better align countries’ needs with partners’ expertise and investment to accelerate digital development.
Bringing together diverse voices across governments, industry, academia and international organisations, the discussion moved towards a more practical question—how to turn cooperation into concrete, measurable results.

The panel brought together a strong cross-sector group of experts spanning technology, digitalisation and cybersecurity:

Mr. David Vicente Ninou, Director, Andorra Digital, Andorra
Mr. Amb. Janis Karklins, Head of Government and International Organization Engagement, ICANN
Mr. Gilles Schwoerer, Head of WB3C, Montenegro
Mr. Boris Radanović, Head of International Development, SWGfL, United Kingdom
Mr. Per Fröjdh, VP International Standards, Ericsson
Prof. Volodymyr Shulha, Rector, State University of Information and Communication Technologies, Ukraine

For WB3C, this forum was a great opportunity to showcase our work focused on translating priorities into operational capacity and regional impact.
We are grateful that, as a result of this forum, WB3C’s cybersecurity contribution is now included among the official submissions to the ITU Regional Development Forum for Europe—opening further space for partnership and delivery.

Building on last year’s work on EU legislation and public-sector cybersecurity standards, we continued the conversation this week — but moved it one step further.
This regional training brought together institutions in the region responsible for training public servants, with a clear focus: how do we translate standards into practice?
Participants explored emerging trends, but more importantly, worked through how to design and deliver cybersecurity curricula that actually respond to today’s risks — grounded in real case studies from both the EU and the region, and shaped by peer exchange.
What made this edition different was its depth. With a more technical focus, and under the guidance of Mladen Bukilic Head of Čikom's Security Operations Centre, the discussions moved closer to operational realities — from frameworks to implementation.
The participants were welcomed by the partnership teams representatives Bojana Bajić (Regional School of Public Administration), Sokol Haxhiu (DCAF - Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance) and Gilles Schwoerer (Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C)), reaffirming a shared commitment to strengthening institutional capacity across the region.

There are many initiatives across the Western Balkans focused on building capacity in cybersecurity — but how can donors work more closely together to use resources more efficiently and maximise impact? And how do we ensure that training and learning are translated into real operational capability?
At the same time, how can the Integrative Internal Security Governance (IISG) mechanism, coordinated by Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), for mapping regional needs and ongoing support be strengthened to enable more tailored, targeted capacity building?
These were the key questions guiding today’s discussion at the WB3C, where we hosted colleagues from the IISG Secretariat — AGRON SOJATI, Ibrahim Begic and Ajsa Buko-Durmić — as part of their mission to Montenegro.
The conversation focused on how to take the existing needs assessment further — towards a more detailed and actionable mapping of institutional needs, closely linked to national strategic priorities and aligned with EU requirements. 
We look forward to continuing our strong cooperation with RCC and IISG in taking these ideas forward and translating them into concrete, coordinated action for the region.

Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos visited the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) in Podgorica today, as part of her official visit to Montenegro.
During her visit, she met with high-level representatives of WB3C’s founding partners, including Her Excellency Anne-Marie Maskay, French Ambassador to Montenegro, Her Excellency bernarda gradišnik, Slovenian Ambassador to Montenegro and His Excellency Ivan Leković, Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, as well as the leadership of the Centre — Naim M. GJOKAJ, Deputy Director General Elect and Gilles Schwoerer Programme Director. 
Commissioner Kos was accompanied by members of her delegation, including Adele Marsullo and Andreas Gahleitner, both members of her Cabinet, Heinke Veit, Deputy Head of Unit B4, DG ENEST and His Excellency Johann Sattler, Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro.
The discussion focused on WB3C’s role in strengthening regional resilience against cyber and hybrid threats, and its contribution to the objectives of the Berlin Process and the EU accession pathway. Commissioner Kos expressed interest in how the Centre translates EU cyber priorities into operational capacity across the Western Balkans and stressed the importance of the WB3C role in supporting countries of the region in building both cyber and democratic resilience, and that EU is willing to support WB3C in this process. 
With its newly formalised status as an international organisation, WB3C is further consolidating its role as a trusted regional platform, capable of scaling its support to partners across the Western Balkans and aligning its programmes more closely with European Union priorities and standards. 

The visit follows the recent approval of a €3.5 million EU grant, which will support the expansion of WB3C’s core programming across cybersecurity, cybercrime and cyber diplomacy, while introducing additional focus areas such as the protection of critical infrastructure and countering disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).

During the visit, Commissioner Kos toured the WB3C facilities and tools-based classrooms providing a first-hand view of the Centre’s practice-oriented approach and its engagement with professionals from across the region.

Security cooperation in the Western Balkans works best when people and programmes are in the room together.
That was very much the case on 17 March, when Gilles Schwoerer, Head of Centre and Programme Director, joined the Seminar of Internal Security Attachés in the Western Balkans to present the Centre’s work and current programming.
The discussion brought together French internal security representatives covering the region, alongside EU-supported project leaders active across the six WB countries. It was a useful opportunity to show where WB3C fits into the wider regional picture: building cyber capacity through practical training, trusted partnerships and programmes designed around real institutional needs.
It was equally valuable to hear presentations from EU supported projects WB-CIPS and EU4FAST, and to look at where stronger links can be made between technical cooperation on the ground and broader regional efforts in areas of shared concern.
Thank you to Ambassador Fabien Fieschi for hosting the seminar at the French Residence and opening the discussion.
 

The first two-week block of our Cybersecurity University Diploma Course is slowly coming to a close.
Over the past two weeks, 14 students from six Western Balkan economies have been learning together through an intensive, practice-based curriculum delivered by the Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT). All of them are already studying computer science or IT at their home universities. This programme allows them to build further on that foundation, working toward an internationally recognised qualification that may lead to a second Bachelor’s degree.
Led by the mentor Ljuban Petrovic, the students are actively engaging in hands-on labs and teamwork and the atmosphere has been both focused and enjoyable. The Centre has become a truly vibrant place, bringing together both young talent and experienced practitioners. This integrated approach is key to building and sustaining the expertise needed for the future. 

As part of the Balkan Cybersecurity Days 2026, 17-18 March in Shkodra, WB3C co-organised a dedicated policy workshop on Cyber Diplomacy in Action, together with DCAF - Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance — bringing together a wider community of public institutions, experts and practitioners working at the intersection of cybersecurity and policy.
The workshop was opened by Franziska Klopfer (DCAF) and Maja Miranovic on behalf of WB3C. In her remarks, Maja welcomed participants and reflected on an important institutional milestone — WB3C’s transition into an international organization, the first headquartered in Montenegro.

The policy workshop focused on the practical side of cyber diplomacy — the tools needed to better understand the evolving threat landscape, the role of different actors in cyberspace, and the increasing need for coordinated national positions.
Through a combination of expert-led sessions and hands-on exercises, participants explored:
the technical and strategic foundations of cyberspace,
➡️ the role and responsibilities of cyber diplomats,
➡️ coordination within government and engagement in international processes,
➡️ the application of the EU Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox in a crisis simulation setting. 
The discussions reinforced a simple point: for the Western Balkans, effective cyber diplomacy depends on cooperation, trust and the ability to act together in an increasingly complex digital environment.

Disinformation is taking an increasingly central place in the security agenda. It is a real and growing challenge that can weaken trust, influence democratic processes such as elections and exploit societal vulnerabilities through digital channels with massive reach. That is why WB3C is integrating this topic into its programme portfolio and launching a new training series for law enforcement agencies in the Western Balkans.

Yesterday, we launched Investigating Disinformation Training for Law Enforcement, bringing together practitioners from across the Western Balkans for a two-day operational training focused on detecting, assessing and responding to disinformation as a security threat.
Delivered with the support of Ronan Mouchoux from XRATOR, the training combines practical exercises, case-based learning and regional scenarios to help connect analysis with lawful and proportionate action.

At the same time, disinformation and FIMI cannot be addressed by one institution alone. While law enforcement has an important role, resilience depends on a whole-of-society approach — with cooperation across public institutions, the judiciary, media, civil society and education systems.
Strengthening this ecosystem is essential for protecting democratic processes, public trust and security across our region.

Today, WB3C is launching a four-day regional training for judges and prosecutors delivered in cooperation with EU4FAST and CIVIPOL, continuing our work under the Cybercrime pillar to strengthen the foundations of criminal investigations involving online and digitally enabled crimes.
This course brings together members of the judiciary from across the Western Balkans to deepen their understanding of how cyber-enabled crimes are investigated and prosecuted in practice.
The programme is structured around three core blocks:
• Typologies of cyber and cyber-enabled crime
• OSINT and dark web investigations
• Cryptocurrencies and blockchain in criminal investigations
These areas are increasingly relevant for prosecutors and judges who must assess complex digital evidence and understand the investigative methods used by law enforcement.
The training is delivered by WB3C’s in-house experts Cyril C. and Yannick Casse, building on the Centre’s regional approach that brings together practitioners from across the Western Balkans to learn from shared challenges and investigative experience.
In 2025, WB3C organised 18 training sessions in cybercrime, reaching more than 183 police officers, judges, prosecutors and police cadets.
In 2026, we aim to further intensify this work — expanding our cybercrime training portfolio and introducing new topics, including disinformation and the fight against foreign information manipulation and interference, reflecting the evolving nature of digital threats.
The effective resolution of cybercrime cases is essential for advancing compliance with Chapters 23 and 24, especially with regard to judicial capacity, the rule of law, and internal security.