Albanian OSCE Chair leads discussion on role of multi-stakeholder initiatives and public-private partnerships in strengthening cyber resilience

VIENNA, 15 June 2020 – How multi-stakeholder approaches and public-private partnerships can strengthen cyber/ICT security in the OSCE’s 57 participating States was the focus of today’s “Cyber/ICT Security Day” event, organized by Albania’s 2020 OSCE Chair in Vienna.

The online event brought together 165 representatives and experts of the participating States, public and private sectors, academia as well as from other international organizations.

“Amid the COVID-19 restrictions, the number of opportunities offered by ICT has never been clearer. Indeed, today’s virtual meeting would be impossible otherwise,” said Agron Tare, Albania’s Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. “But this crisis has also highlighted the vulnerability of our critical infrastructure and essential services, nowhere more obviously than in the healthcare sector. Our reliance on technology and our growing inter-connectedness can be exploited. So, it is now more crucial than ever to foster dialogue and co-operation to ensure a safe and reliable cyber environment.”

The priority of Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship is to strengthen the implementation of the OSCE’s existing, ground- breaking cyber confidence-building measures (CBMs) throughout the OSCE region, despite the unusual circumstances, he added.

“We know from experience that capacity-building, through the development of institutions’ capabilities and specialized knowledge is a core prerequisite for the implementation of CBMs,” said Tare, referring to Albania’s own efforts to strengthen its cybersecurity. “Cyber security therefore requires engagement, collaboration and co-ordination amongst all relevant stakeholders to preserve a functioning and stable cyber/ICT environment.”

Thomas Greminger, OSCE Secretary General, said: “It is worth exploring the possibilities that multi-stakeholder initiatives provide by enhancing collaboration across sectors – including in our own Organization. In times of uncertainty, it is more important than ever to work together to make cyberspace more predictable, which will make it safer for us all. Public-private partnership and multi-stakeholder approaches open the door for innovative, inclusive and state-of-the-art approaches.”

Earlier the discussions were opened with video messages by Ambassador Károly Dán, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the OSCE and Chair of an OSCE Informal Working Group, which is supporting States in implementing the cyber/ICT security CBMs, and Alena Kupchyna, Co-ordinator of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department.

They explained that through the adoption of 16 CBMs, the OSCE has come to play a unique and pioneering role in reducing the risks of inter-State conflict stemming from the use of ICTs.

Subsequent sessions of the “Cyber/ICT Security Day” heard from experts on practical aspects of public-private partnerships, and inter-agency co-operation and co-ordination in the implementation of OSCE cyber/ICT CBMs at a national level.

The final session, organized in co-operation with the Government of France, provided participants with an opportunity to exchange views and best practices on how to create and implement a national severity scale for cyber incidents to strengthen co-operation on critical infrastructure protection.