On November 20-21, 2024, the National Cyber Security Authority of Albania (NCSA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in partnership with the Observer Research Foundation America and the Center for the Study of Democracy and Governance, convened a 60-person regional cyber policy dialogue in Tirana, Albania. This two-day multistakeholder meeting brought together participants from government, business, and civil society in the six Western Balkans economies, other European countries, and the United States. A principal goal of the meeting was to foster genuine and open dialogue among stakeholders from different sectors and backgrounds.

The agenda explored ways to improve regional cooperation on cyber defense, cyber diplomacy, critical infrastructure protection, combating cybercrime, and ensuring election integrity in the face of disinformation.

The first day of the Global Cyber Policy Dialogues: Western Balkans opened with a focus on fostering collaboration and addressing pressing cybersecurity challenges in the region. Key stakeholders discussed the evolving threat landscape, emphasizing the importance of cross-sector and cross-border cooperation to enhance cyber resilience.

NCSA Director General Igli Tafa stated that, “Cyber threats to one party in the Western Balkans are threats to all of us in the region. Tangible regional collaboration is essential to the collective safety and security of our communities in cyberspace.”

Maartje Peters, Head of Digital and Hybrid Threats for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that, “Given the range of actors necessary to find solutions and achieve results in cyber, this multistakeholder dialogue promotes whole-of-society cooperation to combat cyber threats in the Western Balkans.”

The second day began with an opening address by Mr. Arjan Dyrmishi, Executive Director of the Center for the Study of Democracy and Governance, who also moderated a high-level panel discussion. During the panel, Mr. Dyrmishi emphasized the concept of “truth decay,” referring to the erosion of trust in facts and institutions due to disinformation. He highlighted the need for resilient strategies to counter disinformation campaigns and build trust in digital ecosystems.

The dialogue is the fifth international cyber meeting organized by NCSA in 2024. The dialogue also builds on results achieved at in-person meetings in Skopje, North Macedonia in June 2022 and September 2023 and at a virtual meeting in April 2021.