Minister Dukaj takes part in Digital Summit in Tallinn

Minister of Public Administration Marash Dukaj delivered a speech at the Tallinn Digital Summit during the session titled "Western Balkan Digital Security".

Digital transformation is a key priority pursued by the governments of all Western Balkan countries, as it enables the accessibility of public administration to citizens and businesses. Developing electronic services in this regard is an activity to which we pay full attention. A prerequisite to be met in this challenging process is ensuring cybersecurity. I am pleased to have the opportunity to participate here in Estonia, a leader in digital transformation and cybersecurity, in a discussion about cybersecurity, progress, challenges, and needs in achieving a resilient cyber environment for the entire region, said Minister Dukaj.

Minister Dukaj further emphasised that in August of last year, Montenegro suffered powerful cyberattacks on its government IT infrastructure. It became evident that Montenegro needed a strong cybersecurity ecosystem, which it did not have at that moment. Therefore, the Ministry of Public Administration took all necessary steps and initiated mechanisms to enhance the cybersecurity of Montenegro's cyberspace.

In moments when we faced an attack, international cooperation was of paramount importance, as well as the dedication of friendly countries, the solidarity of our partners. On this occasion, I express special gratitude to the EU for the support we received through the Cybersecurity Rapid Response project implemented by eGA, Minister Dukaj stated.

He noted that the Government of Montenegro is actively working on strengthening regional and international cooperation in the field of cybersecurity.

I would like to proudly highlight our cooperation with France and Slovenia, especially regarding the establishment of the Regional Centre for Cybersecurity Capacity Building based in Podgorica. Montenegro's membership in the governing board of the Regional Centre for Cybersecurity Capacity Building not only underscores our commitment to regional cooperation but also emphasises the exceptional importance of collective action in addressing constantly evolving cyber threats, the Minister added.

By investing in the development of our cybersecurity experts and raising awareness and culture of the importance of cybersecurity, our goal is to enhance the overall readiness and resilience, not only of Montenegro but also of the Western Balkans, in dealing with cyber threats. In this regard, we believe that closer regional cooperation must have a special place in all our agendas. Montenegro will welcome new ideas to improve our region's cybersecurity and the next steps towards bringing our economies closer, concluded Minister Dukaj.

The Digital Summit is an annual high-level summit that has brought together a large number of representatives from Western Balkan countries, the European Commission, and numerous other guests, focusing on comparative experiences in advancing digital transformation and cybersecurity.