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Session 11: Securing the digital transformation of the Western Balkans (in partnership with Democratic Control of Armed Forces DCAF)

Session 11: Securing the digital transformation of the Western Balkans (in partnership with Democratic Control of Armed Forces DCAF)

In the past few months Western Balkan countries have made important commitments on increasing digitalisation and cybersecurity in the region. In February, the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans was presented as a joint effort of the six Western Balkans countries and the European Commission and as “one of the six flagship initiatives of the Western Balkans Strategy”.[1] In April, the Western Balkans Digital Summit  was organised in Skopje, Macedonia, to set up a digital platform for exchanging ideas and proposals. The Digital Agenda was officially launched in June at the Digital Assembly in Sofia, Bulgaria.

In the Digital Agenda, the European Commission and the six Western Balkan partners commit to “increasing cybersecurity, trust and digitalisation of industry”. The aim of the Digital Agenda is to “support capacity building in trust and security and the digitalisation of industry in the Western Balkans to ensure that all sectors benefit from digital innovations.”

Objective of the Panel:

  • Take stock of needs in securing the digital transformation in the Western Balkan countries
  • Discuss actions related to ‘cybersecurity, trust and digitalisation of industry’ of the Western Balkan Digital Agenda: what will Western Balkan countries do in practice? What do other partners, including the international community do to support these efforts?

[1]Communication from the Commission on “A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans”.