The CyberSEE joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe facilitated the participation of five experts from South-East Europe in the High-Level Cybersecurity Conference “Western Balkans CyberPulse 2025” and in the Donor Coordination Meeting on Building a Resilient Cybersecurity Ecosystem in the Western Balkans, held on 2–3 July 2025 in Podgorica, Montenegro.
Organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in cooperation with the European Commission, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) and supported by international partners including the Council of Europe, through its Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC), the events brought together high-level officials, donors, beneficiaries, international organisations and cybersecurity experts from across the Western Balkans and partner countries. The conference offered a unique platform for dialogue on cybersecurity priorities, legal frameworks and capacity-building needs in the region.
The High-Level Cybersecurity Conference featured ministerial and expert discussions on the evolving threat landscape, including the role of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, the development of Security Operations Centres (SOC), and the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement across public, private, academic and civil society sectors. Dedicated sessions also addressed talent development, emphasising inclusion of women and youth in cybersecurity.
The Donor Coordination Meeting provided an opportunity for donors and beneficiaries to coordinate their efforts and align priorities for the region. A key milestone was the official launch of the Integrative Internal Security Governance (IISG) Cybersecurity Database, a comprehensive tool mapping ongoing projects and needs across the Western Balkans. Open discussions allowed participants to exchange views on optimising donor support, addressing identified gaps and avoiding duplication of efforts.
The events offered valuable opportunities to strengthen regional dialogue, share experiences and identify concrete steps for improving cybersecurity governance, operational capacities in the cybercrime area and coordination of international support in the region.
Given the event’s focus on cybersecurity, the CyberSEE project’s distinct role in strengthening the criminal justice response to cybercrime and electronic evidence was emphasized. The project supports regional alignment with the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention), its Second Protocol and EU objectives and fostering stronger regional cooperation and resilience against growing cyber threats.
Through dedicated capacity building activities (Cyber Games, Underground Economy Conference, LEA-CERT Exercise), the CyberSEE project contributed to the strengthening of cooperation between cybercrime and cybersecurity professional communities.
By contributing to this event, the CyberSEE project reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing criminal justice capacities to address cybercrime and cybersecurity challenges in South-East Europe and Türkiye.
Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC)