Cybersecurity poses threats and opportunities in the Western Balkans
For the second year in a row, Tallinn Digital Summit, a flagship event for global leaders and policymakers in digital innovation, hosted a panel discussion dedicated to Western Balkan digital transformation and cybersecurity. This year’s panel focused on digital technology and governance in the Western Balkans as well as zoomed into the region’s commitment to tackling cybersecurity risks and leveraging these challenges to foster resilience and innovation.
In his opening keynote, Mr. Michael Docherty, Head of Sector for the Rule of Law, Reconciliation and Security Team in DG NEAR, European Commission emphasised that the EU supports the Western Balkan region politically and financially in bolstering cybersecurity. “Cyberattacks have become a foreign policy instrument. It is evident that in recent years cyber awareness and resilience have increased in the region and that cybersecurity has become a prominent element of EU succession,” Docherty noted.
The first session, moderated by Milan Sekulosi, Senior Expert at e-Governance Academy and Project Manager of “Cyber Balkans” discussed trends and lessons learned in applying new digital technologies for public sector reforms and economic development. The esteemed panelists incuded Stefan Andonovski, Minister for Digital Transformation of North Macedonia, Enkelejda Mucai, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy of Albania, Mladen Mrkaja, Assistant Minister of Security, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nikola Bićanin, Assistant Minister for Information Society and Information Security, Serbia.
Stefan Andonovski, Minister for Digital Transformation of North Macedonia said that there has been a paradigm shift in cybersecurity: “Far too long, cybersecurity was seen as something in parallel or distant but after recent cyberattacks this changed.” He emphasised that North Macedonia recently signed a Security and Defence Partnership with the EU to increase collaboration in areas such as countering hybrid threats, cyber security and capability building
Panelists agreed that EU support in cybersecurity is crucial in the region. “EU is the key partner for building digital and cyber in Serbia and projects like this help to align with EU Directives,” noted Nikola Bićanin, Assistant Minister for Information Society and Information Security, Serbia. He added that ICT is the fastest growing field in Serbia and there has been rapid development in e-governance with over 2,5 million registered users and over 100 services.
In the second session, moderated by Merle Maigre, Head of Cybersecurity Competence Centre at eGA, panelists discussed how cybersecurity works as an enabler for development. The esteemed panelists were Xhelal Sveçla, Minister of Interior, Kosovo, Dragisa Janjusevic, State Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Montenegro and Floreta Faber, Deputy Director of National Cybersecurity Authority, Albania.
Minister of Interior, Kosovo, Xhelal Sveçla emphasised the intensity of cyberattacks: “There has been a 200% increase of ransomware attacks in the region.” Minister Sveçla noted that cybersecurity is however not only a threat but also an opportunity, especially for young talents. He noted that cybersecurity doesn´t have to be a brake in digitalisation process but rather a crucial component. “Cybersecurity failure loses votes,” he answered to moderator´s question about sufficient political will.
The region has seen a rapid increase in cyber resilience and political will is certainly there. The panelists agreed that institutional strengthening, supportive legislation, capacity building to implement new technology and training are crucial elements of making cybersecurity a success story in the region and beyond.
The panel was organized through the EU-financed cybersecurity capacity building project “Cyber Balkans” aiming to enhance cyber resilience of the Western Balkans in compliance with EU acquis and best practices, by improving cybersecurity prevention, preparedness and response of relevant public and private stakeholders.
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