Statement of election management bodies of 5 Western Balkans countries on cybersecurity standards for electoral integrity

The Chairpersons of the Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of 5 Western Balkans countries (Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, BiH, North Macedonia) participated and contributed in fruitful discussions together with key institutions and state agencies mandated in the areas of digitalization and data protection from Albania and Montenegro as well as with The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), Microsoft, CSOs, EMBs senior staff, international organizations, diplomatic missions, representatives of Rule of Law Centre of Finland, key experts of International IDEA, and other partners. 

The five chairpersons of the EMBs, as a conclusion of the roundtable, agreed on underscoring the importance of upholding cybersecurity standards for electoral integrity and recognizing the importance of interagency cooperation on the digitalization of electoral processes and data protection. They also underscore the importance of continuous capacity building in the field of cybersecurity in elections including peer exchanges within the Western Balkans regions and with partners across Europe. 

Read the full statement on Digitalization of Electoral Processes, Perspectives on Cybersecurity and Interinstitutional Coordination Across the Western Balkans.