Abazović to sign Agreement with Macron and Slovenian President establishing the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) based in Podgorica

On Monday, 16 October (17:40 CET), on the sidelines of the Berlin Process Leaders' Summit in Tirana, Prime Minister Dritan Abazović, will join President of France Emmanuel Macron and President of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar in signing an agreement to establish the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) with its headquarters in Podgorica.

The initiative to create the WB3C began on 16 November 2022, with representatives from Montenegro, France, and Slovenia signing a Letter of Intent to establish a centre focused on cyber capacity for Western Balkan countries (WB6), headquartered in Podgorica.

The WB3C is a regional center dedicated to enhancing cyber capabilities in the Western Balkans, with the primary goal of creating a more secure and stable cyber environment in the region. The centre will operate as an international organisation with Montenegro, France, and Slovenia as its founding members, while other countries will become member states.

The centre's programmes will focus on educating and empowering critical infrastructure stakeholders to strengthen their cybersecurity posture. The acquired knowledge will be shared with their respective organisations, promoting a culture of cybersecurity awareness.

The establishment of the WB3C marks a significant step towards improving cybersecurity in the Western Balkans, fostering collaboration among regional actors to combat cyber threats, and creating a hub for advanced cyber programmes, training, and the development of a cybersecurity education curriculum within the regional academic sphere.

The WB3C is designed to be inclusive, welcoming the participation of other countries in the region, as well as cooperation with interested parties, regional organisations, and partners who wish to contribute as full members, active participants, or donors to the centre's efforts in enhancing cybersecurity in the Western Balkans.