Events

On 5 May 2026, we kicked off our first EU-funded project at WB3C in Podgorica — “Improving the Resilience of Critical Entities and the Protection of Public Spaces and Cyberspace against Security Threats in the Western Balkans.”
The project is focused on strengthening the resilience of critical entities, public spaces and cyberspace across the region by bringing together two complementary components — one centred on cyber capacity building, and the other on the legal and institutional frameworks for protection of critical infrastructure.
The WB3C component focuses on people and practice. Over the next three years, it will deliver targeted training, mentoring and technical support in cybersecurity, cybercrime and cyber diplomacy — with a strong emphasis on applied skills, operational readiness, and cooperation between institutions.
In parallel, the CEPS component, led by CIVIPOL in cooperation with the Ministries of Interior of France, Italy, Croatia and Greece, works on strengthening legal alignment, institutional frameworks and regional coordination mechanisms for the protection of critical entities and public spaces.
The two components are implemented as distinct programmes, but intersect where it matters most — particularly in strengthening the capacities of technical teams responsible for critical infrastructure, where policy, systems and operational response come together.
The kick-off brought together partners from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, alongside EU institutions and implementing partners, with over 60 participants representing key ministries and institutions.
Participants were welcomed by the European Union, Civipol as project operator, partner countries, WB3C, and Montenegro as host. The session participants were welcomed by H.E. Anne-Marie Maksay, French Ambassador to Montenegro, Amin Boutaghane, the team leader who presented the CEPS component, Sofia Badari (DG ENEST) who gave the EU perspective, Gilles Schwoerer who introduced WB3C’s programme and Aleksandar Zečević of the Ministry of Public Administration, who welcomed participants on behalf of the Government of Montenegro.
For WB3C, this marks an important step — our first EU grant and a clear signal of trust in the role we are building as a regional platform.

The kick-off event provided an opportunity for complementary donors and partners to present their initiaitves including European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), e-Governance Academy, Integrative Internal Security Governance (RCC IISG) and the Council of Europe.

Following the money remains one of the most effective ways to investigate crime — and today, that increasingly means following crypto-assets.

Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C), in cooperation with EU4FAST, delivered training on crypto investigations for law enforcement officers from the Western Balkans, last week, led by our in-house trainer Yannick Casse.
As cryptocurrencies become more widely used, they are also being exploited in a range of criminal activities — from ransomware and fraud to money laundering and illicit online markets. While transactions may appear anonymous, most blockchain systems are inherently transparent and traceable, offering investigators valuable entry points when the right skills and tools are applied.
This training focused on building essential investigative capabilities, including:
🔓 Understanding how blockchain and cryptocurrency transactions work
🔓 Differentiating between levels of anonymity 
🔓 Tracing transactions across public ledgers
🔓 Identifying links between crypto activity and criminal behaviour
🔓 Preserving and presenting digital evidence for legal proceedings

The objective is to equip investigators with the foundational knowledge needed to engage with crypto-related cases, support financial investigations and collaborate more effectively across agencies and borders.

Strengthening capabilities in this area is key to ensuring that law enforcement can keep pace with the financial dimension of cyber-enabled crime and turn digital traces into actionable intelligence. This is one of our primary areas of training within the cybercrime pillar.

From 27–30 April 2026, Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) delivered a 4-day foundational training on dark web investigations for law enforcement officers from the Western Balkans, led by our in-house trainer Cyril C.
The dark web continues to host a significant share of illicit activity, from marketplaces trading drugs, weapons and stolen data, to forums enabling cybercrime services, financial fraud and emerging forms of organized digital crime. For investigators, this environment presents both a challenge but also an opportunity to build successful cases using various digital traces and operational mistakes.
This training focused on building those foundational skills, including:
🛡️ Understanding how the dark web ecosystem functions (networks, access points, anonymity layers)
🛡️ Identifying and navigating relevant platforms and marketplaces
🛡️ Applying basic OSINT techniques in a dark web context
🛡️ Preserving and handling digital evidence in line with investigative standards
🛡️Linking online activity to real-world criminal investigations

The aim is to equip investigators with the baseline knowledge and practical tools needed to operate confidently in this space and support more advanced, specialised work.

At WB3C, this is part of a broader effort to translate knowledge into operational capability, ensuring that law enforcement institutions across the region are better prepared to respond to evolving cyber-enabled threats.

From 20 to 30 April, WB3C delivered the second two-week block of the one-year Cybersecurity Diploma programme, implemented in partnership with the Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT).

As part of a 60 ECTS academic programme combining lectures, labs, case studies and practical exercises, the training focused on strengthening participants’ ability to secure systems and networks, detect and respond to incidents, and apply core cybersecurity principles in operational environments.

This block continued to build on the programme’s structured progression—from foundational knowledge toward advanced, practice-oriented skills aligned with EU standards and real-world cyber challenges—preparing participants for upcoming modules and their final project work.

This week, we welcomed colleagues from CIVIPOL — Pierre Collet and Amel Belkhadra — to WB3C as part of our new joint EU-funded programme “Improving the resilience of critical entities and the protection of public spaces and cyberspace against security threats in the Western Balkans.”

The visit focused on the practical side of implementation — financial management, coordination, and ensuring that delivery across partners meets EU standards.
We also connected programme management with what it ultimately supports: people and skills. Our guests met participants of the Cybersecurity Diploma delivered with Université de Technologie de Troyes, offering a glimpse into the region’s growing cyber talent pipeline.
Bridging programme governance with hands-on capacity building is key to turning investment into operational capability. We will be working with Civipol over the next three years delivering a rich programme developed by our programme lead Gilles Schwoerer, across cybersecurity, cybercrime and cyberdiplomacy, with new themes added to our portfolio including FIMI and Disinformation.

From 14 to 24 April, WB3C delivered a two-week intensive session of the Digital Forensics one-year diploma programme, implemented in partnership with the Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT).

This final teaching block combined one week of online instruction with one week of in-class training, bringing participants together at WB3C for the concluding phase of their academic journey.

Led by UTT expert Reza El Galai, the session focused on preparing trainees for their final oral defence exam in June, guiding them through the structuring and presentation of their casework, strengthening both analytical and communication skills required for professional practice.

As the programme approaches its conclusion, this milestone marks the transition from structured learning to demonstration of operational competence, reinforcing WB3C’s approach of combining academic rigour with practical application.

Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) was proud to take part in the International Week 2026 on 21-24 April 2026 organised by the University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies (UCIPS) in Belgrade, bringing together participants and experts from across Europe and the Western Balkans.
The programme combined practical exercises, operational demonstrations and expert discussions on topics ranging from OSINT and information security to organised crime, artificial intelligence, emergency response and international police cooperation. Representatives and institutions from Serbia, Montenegro, Republic of Srpska, Hungary, Germany and the United Kingdom contributed to a dynamic and highly professional exchange of knowledge and experience.
WB3C participated through its cybercrime trainers Cyril C. and Yannick Casse, who delivered sessions on “OSINT in Police Work”, combining theoretical and practical elements and highlighting the growing importance of open-source intelligence in modern investigations and law enforcement cooperation.

The week also featured contributions from international law enforcement experts, including representatives of the FBI and the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, as well as a round table on international police cooperation in combating organised crime and terrorism.

We are honoured to have been part of such an important international initiative that strengthens professional networks, operational cooperation and shared understanding of today’s evolving security challenges.
Thank you to UCIPS for the invitation and excellent organisation.

WB3C took part in the III International Conference of the Association of Security Managers of Montenegro on 17-18 April in Budva, attended by security professionals from Montenegro and the region.

Every year, the conference creates a platform for discussion on how the security landscape is evolving, particularly in light of rapid technological change.
WB3C had the opportunity to contribute to the panel exploring “The Role of the CISO in the Post Quantum Era: Risks, Investments and Operational Shifts.” The discussion addressed what the emergence of quantum technologies means in practice: for cryptography, data protection, risk management and ultimately for how organisations structure and empower their security leadership.
Across the conference, one message was consistent: cyber resilience is becoming a core governance issue, not just a technical one. In this context, regional cooperation and alignment with European and international partners remain essential. 

Our colleagues Gilles Schwoerer and Maja Miranovic took this opportunity to congratulate Dragan Radulović on his election as the next President of the Southeastern Europe Corporate Security Association (SEECSA).

Last week at WB3C, we wrapped up a four-day training on Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) focused on the energy sector and government infrastructure, led by Ljuban Petrovic.

Working with SOC, CSIRT and CERT teams from across the region, the training reinforced a simple point: CTI only matters when it informs decisions. When it helps prioritise. When it changes how teams prepare and respond.
The sectoral focus proved its value. Energy infrastructure comes with its own risk landscape, and the discussions reflected that reality—specific, operational, and directly relevant.

We are continuing this work in September, building on what started here.
Because strengthening resilience is not a one-off effort. It is something that develops over time, through practice, exchange, and trust.