11. 11. 2024 | PR, Regional cooperation
Between 5 and 8 November 2024 CEP supported Government Information Security Office of the Republic of Slovenia (URSIV) in organizing a “New Technologies and Cybersecurity” training at the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Center (WB3C) in Podgorica, gathering 18 cybersecurity experts from public institutions of the Western Balkan countries for an intensive training.
The aim of the training was to strengthen participants’ understanding of new technological tools that can significantly enhance cybersecurity frameworks within their institutions, ensuring a proactive approach to emerging cyber threats. Participants explored the deployment of three cutting-edge technologies—artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and honeypots.
Nine Slovenian experts shared their insights on various aspects of these technologies and their role in cybersecurity, covering topics such as AI governance, cryptographic advancements, and the use of honeypots as threat intelligence tools.
27. 6. 2024 | PR, Regional cooperation, Strategic Communication, Strengthening Societal Resilience and Countering Foreign Perpetrated Disinformation in 6 Western Balkans Countries
Today, the Centre for European Perspective is launching a new publication, »The Mirage of Truth: Complexities and Challenges of Disinformation in the Western Balkans«, in the scope of the Strengthening Societal Resilience and Countering Foreign-Perpetrated Disinformation in 6 Western Balkan Countries project.
The publication is the last activity upon the conclusion of this project as of June 30th, 2024. It touches upon the following topics: governments’ capacities to tackle disinformation, legislative venues for counter-disinformation tactics, regulation of the digital space, adaptations to education curricula, and possibilities and limits to whole-of-society cooperation mechanisms.
Disinformation is about intent. More specifically, intent to manipulate. Information is not accidentally skewed; the context is not taken out of the equation by chance. The source of disinformation carefully tailors the product following its aims and targets. It is a long-term, coordinated action seeking to undermine another society’s values, cohesion and institutions. In other words, disinformation is not a phenomenon – it is a threat, and even more, a security threat. It is a direct manifestation of foreign interference in domestic affairs, and it should be treated as such. The easiest and most vulnerable targets of disinformation are countries still developing their democratic and economic capacities with a recent history of conflict, like the Western Balkans. Disinformation that targets this region is a threat to the idea of Europe and we must, and we will resist – together.
The publication does not pretend to offer answers or an overview of all the challenges each Western Balkan country is struggling with. However, it does encourage future researchers and practitioners to think about the issue more comprehensively and to consider how disinformation affects the entire societal ecosystem, from security and foreign policy to governance, media, and education. Moreover, it also urges calls for an expansion of the comparative perspectives for which, at this time, we lacked sufficient space.
We would like to thank the following authors for their contribution to the publication: Kristina Voko (BIRN Albania), Vuk Vučetić (University of East Sarajevo), Kreshnik Gashi (Kallxo.com and Birn Kosovo), Marko Banović (Digital Forensic Centre / Digitalni forenzički centar – DFC), Bardhyl Jashari (Metamorphosis Foundation) & Tijana Femić (Novi Sad School of Journalism).
As the project concludes, our commitment to this cause remains unwavering. We will continue our efforts in this area, recognizing that change is only possible with consistency. It would be a disservice to the four years of hard work not to carry it forward in other ways.
The Project Strengthening Societal Resilience and Countering Disinformation in the Western Balkans is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia through development cooperation funds.
Read the publication HERE.
12. 4. 2024 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Strategic Communication, Strengthening Societal Resilience and Countering Foreign Perpetrated Disinformation in 6 Western Balkans Countries
The final act of the ‘Strengthening Societal Resilience and Countering Foreign Perpetrated Disinformation in the Western Balkans’ project unfolded as a comprehensive three-day regional training held online from April 9 to April 11, 2024. This event served as a platform for civil society, media, and government representatives from the six Western Balkan countries to collaborate on addressing and combating the extensive issue of disinformation in the region.
The conference began with an address by Ingrid Omahna (CEP), setting the stage for subsequent discussions. After that, on the first day, we had experts from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Global Engagement Centre (GEC) and European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) with us. Craig Matasick (OECD) emphasised the importance of robust governance measures and institutional frameworks in safeguarding the information space’s integrity; Iva Nenadić (EDMO) talked about actionable insights for combating disinformation, and experts from GEC presented a Framework to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation, new tool addressing the challenge of disinformation.
On the second day, the focus was on best practices to counter disinformation. The Elves, a Lithuanian civil society initiative, joined us, presenting the perspective of non-governmental organisations on disinformation. The governmental viewpoint was discussed by the Czech Centre against Hybrid Threats. The media’s perspective was discussed with Joscha Weber from Deutsche Welle. He highlighted the media’s role and the importance of responsible journalism in countering disinformation effectively. The program offered a comprehensive understanding of disinformation from diverse stakeholder perspectives. On the final day, they showcased case studies from Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, addressing different aspects of disinformation. They revealed distinct challenges and strategies.
The group work sessions were a pivotal aspect of the training, providing attendees with the opportunity to engage in collaborative discussions and exchange ideas. These interactive sessions were not just about preparing national proposals to counter external disinformation but also about recognising the crucial role of each participant in this process.
Overall, the regional training was not just a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing but also a source of empowerment. Led by leading experts in the field, it equipped participants with practical tools, methodologies, and best practices to address the multifaceted challenge of disinformation effectively.
The Project Strengthening Societal Resilience and Countering Disinformation in the Western Balkans is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia through development cooperation funds.
2. 2. 2024 | Employment, PR
Ustanova – Center za evropsko prihodnost (CEP) razpisuje delovno mesto:
PROJEKTNI VODJA II (1 delovno mesto) – M/Ž
Postani del mladega in zagnanega kolektiva, kjer nudimo zanimivo, raznoliko in fleksibilno delo; kjer nagrajujemo odprto izmenjavo mnenj, izmenjavo idej in inovativen pristop; nudimo priložnosti za strokovno izpopolnjevanje ter soustvarjanje vidnih prispevkov k ciljem Republike Slovenije v mednarodnih odnosih. Nudimo možnost dolgoročnega sodelovanja.
Opis del in nalog:
• pomoč pri pripravi in izvedbi projektov mednarodnega razvojnega, sodelovanja republike Slovenije z državami Zahodnega Balkana in držav Evropske sosedske politike ter na področju vladavine prava (notranjih zadev, pravosodja)
• logistična organizacija za izvedbo delavnic, sestankov, delovnih obiskov in drugih oblik prenosa znanja
• priprava projektne dokumentacije, upravljanje s projektno dokumentacijo,
• načrtovanje in izvajanje aktivnosti in komunikacije z javnostmi, vključno s pripravo sporočil za javnost za spletne strani in družbena omrežja, anketiranje udeležencev delavnic,
• analiziranje in obdelava ocenjevalnih vprašalnikov,
• upravljanje s projektnim proračunom,
• pomoč pri pripravi finančnih poročil, samostojna priprava poročil,
• pomoč pri vsebinskem in metodološkem oblikovanju delavnic,
• komunikacija z deležniki projekta, vključno komunikacija s slovenskimi in tujimi strokovnjaki, koordinacija in sodelovanje s slovenskimi organi in organi v partnerski državi,
• spremljanje dogajanja na vsebinskem področju projektov,
• izvedba vseh drugih nalog, potrebnih za uspešno izvedbo projekta.
Zahtevana poklicna/strokovna izobrazba:
visokošolska 1.stopnje (prejšnja) oz 2. bolonjska stopnja smeri družbenih ved, novinarstva ali informacijske znanosti
Zahtevano znanje jezikov:
ANGLEŠKI JEZIK – razumevanje tekoče, govorjenje tekoče, pisanje tekoče
HRVAŠKI JEZIK – razumevanje tekoče, govorjenje tekoče, pisanje tekoče ali
SRBSKI JEZIK – razumevanje tekoče, govorjenje tekoče, pisanje tekoče ali
BOSANSKI JEZIK – razumevanje tekoče, govorjenje tekoče, pisanje tekoče ali
UKRAJINSKI JEZIK – razumevanje tekoče, govorjenje tekoče, pisanje tekoče.
Zahtevana računalniška znanja:
urejevalnik besedil – osnovno
delo s preglednicami – osnovno
delo z bazami podatkov – osnovno
poznavanje računalniških omrežij – osnovno
poznavanje operacijskih sistemov – osnovno
računalniško oblikovanje – osnovno
Drugi pogoji:
Na razpisano delovno mesto bo imenovan kandidat, ki izpolnjuje naslednje pogoje:
• državljanstvo države članice Evropske unije,
• štiri leta delovnih izkušenj
• vozniško dovoljenje B kategorije
• poznavanje področja mednarodnih odnosov in področij EU, razumevanje delovanja vladnih struktur,
• usposobljenost za delo z računalnikom (delo z urejevalniki besedil, delo s preglednicami, delo z bazami podatkov, poznavanje računalniških omrežij, poznavanje operacijskih sistemov),
• sposobnost delovanja v mednarodnem okolju,
• organizacijske in komunikacijske sposobnosti,
• timska naravnanost in zanesljivost,
• sposobnost postavljanja prioritet,
• natančnost, temeljitost, visok standard za kakovostno opravljeno delo,
• predanost k doseganju rezultatov mednarodnega razvojnega sodelovanja Republike Slovenije s partnerskimi državami,
• zavzetost za delo,
• občutek osebne odgovornosti za uspešno in pravočasno opravljene delovne naloge.
Prednost bodo imeli kandidati:
• s poglobljenim poznavanjem o državah Zahodnega Balkana in Evropske sosedske politike;
• z znanjem andragogike oz. modernejših metod učenja in usposabljanja;
• z izkušnjami delovanja na Zahodnem Balkanu in/ali državah Evropske sosedske politike;
• z izkušnjami sodelovanja z nacionalnimi in mednarodnimi akterji notranjih zadev, pravosodja in organi pregona.
Delo bo izbrani kandidat opravljal na sedežu CEP, Grajska cesta 1, 1234 Mengeš.
Kandidati naj pošljejo prijavo na razpis delovnega mesta Projektni vodja II po elektronski pošti na naslov: [email protected] z oznako v predmetu – »Prijava na razpis za delovno mesto Projektni vodja.«.
Rok za prijavo bo potekel 16. 2. 2024 ob 23:59 uri. Upoštevane bodo vse prijave, ki bodo pravočasno prispele na zgoraj navedeni elektronski naslov. V besedilu objave uporabljeni izrazi, napisani v moški slovnični obliki, so uporabljeni kot nevtralni za ženske in moške.
Kandidati bodo o izbiri obveščeni v roku 15 dni po odločitvi o izboru.
Razpis je objavljen tudi na spletni strani Zavoda RS za zaposlovanje – tukaj.
27. 11. 2023 | PR, Regional cooperation
Centre for European Perspective helped in the organisation of the ‘WB3C Training for CISOs of Critical Infrastructure in the Western Balkans’.
On 21 and 22 November, a ‘WB3C Training for CISOs of Critical Infrastructure in the Western Balkans’ took place in Podgorica, Montenegro. The training was organised within the framework of Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) by the Information Security Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia with the assistance of the Centre for European Perspective. CEP has a well-established track record in organizing trainings. The expertise accumulated through its work contributes to the successful and seamless execution of training programs.
The training brought together 19 participants dealing with information security in critical infrastructure from the countries of the Western Balkans. During the two days of training, the participants attended workshops and presentations dealing with a vast array of topics, ranging from mapping the biggest cybersecurity threats, essential prerequisites for raising the level of cyber security in critical infrastructure organisations and government bodies, post-quantum cryptography, new obligations arising from the EU’s NIS2 Directive to CISO networks that the participants can join.
