22/10/2025
Mentor Vrajolli, Executive Director of the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS), attended the Regional Dialogue on Cybersecurity held in Tirana, Albania, on October 16–17, 2025. The event, titled "Global Dialogues on Cyber Policy: Western Balkans," brought together 50 participants from governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector across the Western Balkans.
Organized by the National Cybersecurity Agency of Albania (AKSK) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation America and the Albania Sustainable Development Organization, the dialogue focused on enhancing regional cooperation in cyber defense, incident response, cyber diplomacy, and capacity building.
AKSK Director General Igli Tafa emphasized the existing cybersecurity gap in the Western Balkans, stating, “Such challenges cannot be tackled alone; only through cooperation and joint capacity building can we move forward.” Ernst Noorman, Special Ambassador for Cybersecurity Affairs at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, added, “Cybersecurity requires the involvement of multiple actors. It’s not just a governmental issue but one that encompasses the entire society. As digitalization brings efficiency, challenges become increasingly complex. Coordinated action and mutual trust are essential if we want to progress together.”
During the two-day event, Mentor Vrajolli was able to provide his contribution by highlighting the work KCSS has undertaken over the past two years under the ASCEND project, part of the IGNITA initiative funded by the Open Society Institute for Western Balkans (OSF WB). He underscored the importance of providing countries in the region with a perspective on gradual integration into European cyber mechanisms as part of the broader European integration process.
Vrajolli noted, “While countries in the region have been invited to be part of the European Digital Single Market, it would be appropriate if this went hand-in-hand with facilitating gradual membership or some form of observer status in European cyber mechanisms such as the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA).” He pointed to the ongoing process of amending the European Cybersecurity Act as a window of opportunity for such integration, calling for the institutional representatives from the countries in the region to increase their advocacy in attempt to reach this goal.
KCSS’s participation in the dialogue reaffirmed its commitment to advancing cybersecurity policy and regional cooperation, contributing valuable insights and advocating for inclusive and strategic approaches to digital security in the Western Balkans.
📸 Thanks to the organizers for enabling this platform for experience exchange and collaboration among regional stakeholders.
