Events

WB3C was present at the prestigious Paris Cyber Summit 2-3 June 2025 which convened European and US ministers, policymakers, and cybersecurity experts for a series of high‑level sessions on building trust in the digital age.  Thematic panels addressed critical topics, including:

• Cyber‑defence strategies and resilience of critical infrastructure
• The role of artificial intelligence in both cyberattacks and cybersecurity
• Intelligence‑sharing frameworks to counter hybrid warfare and foreign interference.

WB3C’s attendance - alongside leading national delegations, EU institutions, and private sector leaders, was a great opportunity to create important links and meet potential partners and donors and affirmed our commitment to strengthening regional capabilities in line with EU strategic priorities and international best practices.  Head of WB3C Gilles Schwoerer had the opportunity to meet with the Director of the National Cybersecurity Agency of Moldova, following a visit to WB3C by Mrs Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova, who expressed interest in working with WB3C.

Today, WB3C was paid a curtesy visit by Australian Federal Police representatives based at the Australian Embassy in Belgrade, Mr Phillip Anderson and Deputy Head of Mission and Mr Ian Nelson Counsellor.

This visit to WB3C was to see the facilities and initiate a discussion on potential cooperation and support to WB3C's mission. The delegation was met by our in-house trainer on cybercrime Cyril C.

From May 26 to 29, WB3C organized a specialized training course for Kosovo* prosecutors and law enforcement officials, as part of the Home Affairs Programme of the EU in Kosovo (HAPE).

This training, delivered by the two WB3C trainers, supported Kosovo's* efforts to strengthen institutional capacity to investigate and prosecute serious cybercrime, particularly in the areas of organized crime, corruption, cyber threats, and counterterrorism.

This initiative is part of a broader EU-supported effort to improve operational readiness in key areas, including financial crime, cybercrime, and border management, and to foster regional and cross-border cooperation in accordance with European standards. As the region's central training platform, WB3C was pleased to be able to contribute to regional cyber capacity building initiatives in support of European integration and the rule of law.

*References to Kosovo shall be understood in the context of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).

Last week in Durres, Albania, 60 students from across the Western Balkans came together for the Western Balkan Cyber Camp 2025 - a dynamic, hands-on learning experience focused on building practical skills and regional collaboration in cybersecurity. The camp featured expert-led sessions, live cyber drills and exchanges with professionals from national CSIRTs, giving participants the chance to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios and deepen their understanding of today’s digital threats.
Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) was proud to support this important regional initiative, alongside Autoriteti Kombëtar për Sigurinë Kibernetike / National Cyber Security Authority, OSCE Presence in Albania, e-Governance Academy and GIZ Albania HR.

The WB3C delegation was led by Gilles Schwoerer, Head of WB3C, who emphasized our ongoing commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and investing in the next generation of cyber talent.

At WB3C, we see events like this as essential to creating a resilient digital future - by connecting people, sharing knowledge and empowering the cyber professionals of tomorrow.

We are excited to share a significant milestone in the journey of the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre initiative. On 22 May 2025, the French Parliament ratified an international agreement that officially recognizes WB3C as an international organization. With this ratification, WB3C joins Slovenia and Montenegro in formalizing its status as a regional organization dedicated to strengthening cyber resilience of institutions and fostering cooperation across the Western Balkans.

This achievement marks a significant step forward in our mission to support the institutions of the Western Balkans through capacity-building and regional cooperation. It also makes WB3C the first international organization headquartered in Montenegro, underscoring the country's strategic importance in regional integration.

While the formal ratification is a major breakthrough, the journey continues as we work towards establishing the full operational framework of the organization. We remain committed to advancing our work and look forward to the next chapters of this exciting evolution.

We are deeply grateful to our partner governments, stakeholders and supporters whose dedication has brought us to this pivotal moment. Together, we are building a more stable, prosperous and interconnected Western Balkans.

It was a privilege to welcome so many distinguished colleagues, partners, and new collaborators to the Cyber Capacity Building Workshop, jointly hosted by World Economic Forum Cybersecurity and Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) on 19-20 May .

The workshop brought together a remarkable group of cybersecurity professionals, policymakers and private sector leaders and educators for two days of focused discussions on issues: cyber talent shortage and international collaboration in disrupting cybercrime. 

Mr. Marash Dukaj, Minister of Public Administration of Montenegro, who opened the event with a keynote, following the welcome speech by Gilles Schwoerer, Head of WB3C, emphasized the urgency of strengthening cyber capabilities across the Western Balkans. This was followed by insights from a high-level panel featuring:
-Dušan Polović, Ministry of Public Administration, Montenegro
-Ivan Boskovic, e-Commerce Association of Montenegro
-Jelena Zelenovic Matone, European Investment Bank, and
-Rob Rashotte, Fortinet (Canada), 
who bring vast experience and knowledge from their global operations.
The panel was moderated by Natasa Perucica, World Economic Forum, Lead for capacity building at the WEF Cybersecurity Centre.

The programme continued in two parallel tracks:
🔹 Stream 1 focused on building and retaining cybersecurity talent, with speakers from Accenture, Check Point, Université de Troyes, Fortinet, National Cybersecurity Authority of Saudi Arabia, and the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. 

During the workshop, the World Economic Forum also presented two key publications that offer practical insights into developing the cybersecurity workforce:
Strategic Cybersecurity Talent Framework
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eZ9mFTyt
Growing Cyber Talent Through Public-Private Partnerships
🔗 https://lnkd.in/gQ8xczpM

Both publications highlight proven approaches, success stories and lessons from global partnerships that are highly relevant for the Western Balkans and beyond.
🔹 Stream 2 explored operational collaboration against cybercrime, with contributions from Europol EC3, Sekoia.io, Standard Chartered, and the World Economic Forum’s Cybercrime Atlas Initiative.
Across both streams, discussions were practical and constructive—examining the realities of cyber workforce shortages, the anatomy of current threats, and the importance of trust and cross-border cooperation.
Gilles Schwoerer, provided a brief overview of the Centre’s three pillars—cybersecurity, cybercrime, and cyberdiplomacy—emphasizing the importance of partnerships in advancing this collaborative effort.

A sincere thank you to all speakers, contributors, and participants for your openness and energy throughout the workshop. We are especially grateful to our partners at the World Economic Forum for their support in building cyber resilience of the Western Balkans.

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Center (WB3C) is proud to announce its collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to host the region’s first Cyber Capacity Building Workshop on 19-20 May 2025 in Podgorica. This high-level gathering will convene global experts and regional stakeholders to strengthen the Western Balkans’ cybersecurity resilience through two critical streams: addressing the cyber talent shortage and enhancing collaborative strategies against cybercrime.  

A Convergence of Global and Regional Expertise 

The workshop will feature contributions from an exceptional roster of international and regional leaders, including:  

Opening remarks: Mr Gilles Schwoerer, WB3C Programme Director

Keynote Speaker: Mr Marash Dukaj, Minister of Public Administration of Montenegro  

Opening panel: Cybersecurity in the Western Balkans: Bridging global practices with local needs

Dušan Polović, General Director at the Directorate for Infrastructure, Information Security, Digitalization and E-services at the Ministry of Public Administration (Montenegro)

Rob Rashotte, Vice-President, Global Training and Technical Field Enablement, Fortinet (Canada)

Jelena Zelenovic Matone, Chief Information Security Officer, European Investment Bank (Luxembourg)

Samuel Hassine, Chief Executive Officer, Filigran (France)

Ivan Bošković, President of e-Commerce Association of Montenegro

Moderator: Nataša Perućica, Lead for Capacity Building, Centre for Cybersecurity, World Economic Forum         

Stream 1: Addressing the Cyber Talent Shortage

- Nataša Perućica, Lead for Capacity Building, Centre for Cybersecurity, World Economic Forum         

- Dana Berman, Manager, Strategic Business Development & Marketing - Cybersecurity Services, Check Point Software Technologies (Israel)  

- Denise Cassidy, EMEA Security HR Lead, Accenture (Ireland)  

- Giuseppe Cinque, Principal Architect, Cisco Digital Impact Office, Cisco Systems (Italy)  

- Reza Elgalai, Université Technologique de Troyes (France)  

- Rob Rashotte, Vice-President, Global Training and Technical Field Enablement, Fortinet (Canada)  

- Abdullah Albaiz, General Manager for Human Capital Development, National Cybersecurity Authority of Saudi Arabia  

- Grace Boyling, Senior Policy Advisor on International Cyber Skills, UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology  

- Mark Mannheim, Programme Manager, Cybersecurity and Digital Identity Directorate, UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology  

- Jakub Olszewski, Head of Skills Academies, Standard Chartered Bank (United Kingdom)  

Stream 2: Collaborative Strategies Against Cybercrime

- Sean Doyle, Cybercrime Atlas Initiative, World Economic Forum Centre for Cybersecurity 

- Alex Wloch, Senior Analyst, Active Threat Monitoring, Standard Chartered Bank (United Kingdom)  

- Céline Louyat, Inspector, Public Finance, AGRASC (France)  

- Livia Tirbina, Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst, Sekoia.io (France)

- James Gill, Global Head, Cyber Threat Response, Banco Santander (Spain)  

- Jakub Olszewski, Head of Skills Academies, Standard Chartered Bank (United Kingdom)  

- Jelena Zelenovic Matone, Chief Information Security Officer, European Investment Bank (Luxembourg)  

- Paul-Alexandre Gillot, J-CAT Coordinator, Europol EC3 (France)  

- Samuel Hassine, CEO, Filigran (France)  

Why This Workshop Matters

Recent data reveals alarming trends in the Western Balkans:  

- A 40% increase in cyber incidents since 2023  

- A 200% surge in ransomware attacks between 2022-2024  

- A critical shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals  

This workshop will tackle these challenges head-on by:  

- Developing actionable strategies to attract, train, and retain cybersecurity talent in the region  

- Strengthening operational collaboration between law enforcement, governments, and private sector leaders  

- Aligning regional efforts with global frameworks like WEF’s Strategic Cybersecurity Talent Framework and Cybercrime Disruption Framework

Join the Conversation  

While attendance is by invitation only, organizations interested in contributing to the Western Balkans’ cybersecurity resilience efforts are encouraged to contact us for more information on info@wb3c.org.  

Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova, visited the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) to learn about the centre’s mission and explore cooperation opportunities. She was accompanied by Montenegro’s Minister of Public Administration, Maras Dukaj. WB3C leadership Gilles Schwoerer and Katarina Zajec presented the Centre's work on regional cyber resilience, including support to national strategies, CSIRT development, cybercrime response and public-sector training. President Sandu expressed keen interest in Moldova joining some of our regional initiatives in the future and WB3C shared openness to the idea of extending our scope to other EU aspiring countries.      

Over the past three days, 13-15 May 2025, senior public officials from the Western Balkans completed advanced training to become trainers for cyber hygiene in their respective institutions. Under excellent leadership of the trainer Arianit Maraj, participants were able to deepen their understanding of cyber threats and prevention techniques while developing practical skills to deliver cybersecurity training within their own institutions.

Organised jointly by Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) and Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA), this training combined expert-led sessions, interactive discussions and hands-on exercises—equipping participants to champion cyber hygiene across public administrations.

We thank all involved for their active participation and look forward to the continued strengthening of cybersecurity capacity in the region.