Supported by the EU-funded Cyber Balkans project, 30 incident responders from six Western Balkan countries — Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia — took part in the 37th FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams) Annual Conference, held in Copenhagen. This premier global event brought together leading cybersecurity professionals from across Europe and around the world.
The conference featured a rich programme of trainings, presentations, and workshops delivered by industry leaders and internationally recognised experts. It was also an opportunity for beneficiaries to take active part in special interest group meetings and familiarise how global communities can practically help in increasing their cyber resilience.
Topics discussed included cyber threat intelligence, capacity building, and regional cooperation — with a special focus on the involvement of Western Balkan countries.
A highlight of the event was participation in Special Interest Group (SIG) meetings, where delegates explored how global cybersecurity communities can support and strengthen cyber resilience in their home countries. These sessions provided practical insights into cross-border collaboration and coordinated threat response.
In parallel, Cyber Balkans hosted a dedicated side meeting exclusively for Western Balkans participants. The discussion focused on the effective use of cyber threat intelligence feeds—ranging from open-source to commercial solutions—and on proactive communication strategies for engaging national stakeholders to enhance regional cybersecurity.
At a dedicated side event, Western Balkans participants discussed the effective use of cyber threat intelligence and strategies for engaging national stakeholders.
FIRST also showcased its ongoing capacity-building initiatives, discussions on how these programmes could be adapted and implemented in the Western Balkans through existing project resources and partnerships. The event underscored the vital importance of regional cooperation and reaffirmed the benefits of joint efforts in addressing shared cyber threats.
Looking ahead, the conference served as a platform to outline and coordinate future activities under the Cyber Balkans project, ensuring sustained collaboration and a stronger cyber defence posture across the Western Balkans.
Key takeaways:
