Tirana, September 3, 2024 – The Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans (OSF-WB) under the Ignita Initiative, supported a high-level regional policy roundtable in Tirana, Albania, which brought together more than 50 key policy stakeholders from the government and international community.  

Co-organized between the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS) and the Albanian National Cybersecurity Authority, the event focused on advancing the integration of the Western Balkans Six (WB6) into the European Union’s (EU) cybersecurity policies, specifically those of the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA).  

This roundtable is part of the ASCEND-WB6 project “Advancing Regional Security Cooperation in the Western Balkans” implemented by KCSS. ASCEND-WB6 advocates for the inclusion of the WB6 into the EU’s security and rule of law architecture, with a particular emphasis on cybersecurity integration. The project is part of Ignita—an initiative of regional partner organizations led by OSF-WB that aims to address emerging regional cooperation and EU integration challenges.

“Ignita is a regional platform that builds upon the foundations laid during the Civil Society Forum Tirana 2023 to foster collaboration across national and sectoral boundaries. Our aim is to create a unified vision for an integrated region that not only converges with the EU but also thrives within its frameworks—one such framework being cybersecurity” said Klodjan Seferaj, Program Manager at OSF-WB.

During the roundtable, representatives from public institutions, regional organizations, embassies, the EU, and other international bodies, discussed the pressing need for close cooperation between the Western Balkans and the EU to tackle emerging cybersecurity threats and enhancing defence. Key stakeholders reiterated the need for enhanced regional cooperation and alignment with EU cybersecurity standards.

Igli Tafa, Director of the Albanian National Cybersecurity Authority, highlighted the importance of coordinated approaches to safeguard economies, institutions, and citizens, through EU’s cybersecurity frameworks and initiatives. 

Mentor Vrajolli, Executive Director of KCSS highlighted that the Western Balkans’s cooperation with the ENISA is no longer a good to have; it is a necessity. “As the EU continues to advance its digital and cybersecurity framework, our region must be part of these efforts to protect our infrastructure, economies, and societies from the growing threats in cyberspace,” Vrajolli said.

At the roundtable KCSS also presented its new report on the “Integration of the Six Countries of the Western Balkans (WB6) in the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity”. The report builds on key recommendations from CSF23 and outlines a roadmap for the region’s integration.

This roundtable marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation between the Western Balkans and the EU.

Follow-up discussions are planned in Berlin and Brussels later this year, as part of Ignita Initiatives commitment to fostering regional collaboration in vital areas like cybersecurity. 

Through Ignita Initiative, OSF-WB aims to empower civil society actors to influence policymaking processes on European integration, jointly and effectively.