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Bregu: Inclusivity is important, in the implementation of cyber security measures, in the Western Balkans

2024-07-09 17:22:00, Aktualitet CNA
Bregu: Inclusivity is important, in the implementation of cyber security
Majlinda Bregu

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), with the support of the European Commission, organized today in Tirana the second High Level Conference on "Cybersecurity challenges and opportunities in the Western Balkans". The conference featured discussions on infrastructure, presenting practical solutions from both the private and public sector perspectives, exploring how emerging technologies can enhance the security of critical infrastructure.

"Last year, we started a high-level dialogue on cyber security, and we've seen significant progress since then. All Western Balkan economies have prioritized digital skills in their national reform agendas. ID-Wallet, originally a proposal of the RCC, is now recognized by the EU for accession to the Common Market of the European Union. The RCC, with EU support, is developing a regional cyber security approach. The legislation of the Western Balkans is in line with those of the EU and cyber security is now a key focus in the Regional Common Market, aiming for integration into the EU Common Market by 2028. Efforts include alignment with the certification framework of EU cyber security, regional cooperation and the development of AI legislation. Embracing inclusivity is paramount in our effort to implement cyber security measures throughout the Western Balkans," RCC General Secretary Majlinda Bregu said at the opening of the conference.

With 5.2 billion people worldwide accessing the internet and 66.2% of the population using it for more than 2 hours and 23 minutes a day, cyber security is no longer a matter of national security, but a challenge of global security. There are an estimated 800,000 cyber attacks worldwide each year. The Western Balkans has seen a significant 40% increase in cyber incidents last year. In 2023, more than 1.2 million personal data were exposed due to data breaches in the region, and ransomware attacks have increased by 200% over the past two years. The average ransom demand in the region is around €150,000, with some organizations paying over €1 million to recover their data. 75% of businesses in the Western Balkans reported phishing attacks in the last year.

Bregu: Inclusivity is important, in the implementation of cyber security
Majlinda Bregu

In addition to the General Secretary of the RCC, the second high-level conference on cyber security was also opened by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy of Albania, Belinda Balluku and the Deputy Head of the Unit for Regional Policy and Strategy of the Western Balkans in the General Directorate for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission, Anna Vezyroglou.

As a platform for structured and comprehensive discussions on the challenges and opportunities of cyber security in the Western Balkans, the Conference gathered representatives of the Ministries of the Western Balkans and relevant regional and international actors to debate on priorities for improving the current cyber security situation in the region.

The main issues that emerged from the conference include the activities within the Common Regional Market Action Plan: strengthening EU-Western Balkan cooperation on cyber threats through information exchange at the global level as essential; prioritizing the expansion of the Digital Europe Program to include cyber security for the Western Balkans; the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU Cyber ??Security Certification Framework to increase the security of ICT products; Regional ID Portfolio activities related to EU policies; prioritizing membership in the ACTING Project and Cyber ??Security Skills Academy; recognizing public-private partnerships as vital to improving cyber security measures and improving collaboration between governments and the private sectors, and finally, investing in cyber security initiatives, including research, infrastructure and workforce development, especially for SMEs- of, as essential for a secure digital future./ CNA





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