OSCE workshop strengthens cybersecurity partnerships and critical infrastructure resilience

On 18 and 19 May 2026, the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department organized a workshop bringing together policymakers and cybersecurity specialists to strengthen their understanding of the role of public-private partnerships in the protection of critical infrastructure from cyber threats. The event was convened in Chișinău, Moldova, for 25 representatives of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine. 

The workshop focused on the practical implementation of OSCE cyber/ICT security confidence-building measures (CBMs), in particular CBM 14 (on public-private partnerships) and CBM 15 (on critical infrastructure protection). Participants explored how closer co-operation between governments and private operators can improve information-sharing, resilience and incident responses in critical information sectors. 

Karin Kosina, Head of the Cyber Diplomacy and Hybrid Threats Unit of the Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs of Austria, said: “Cyber attacks are increasing in number, in complexity and in their potential impact. Besides non-State actors such as cyber criminals and hacktivists, we are also facing malicious cyber behaviour by State actors. Increasing our resilience against these threats is therefore imperative.”

A central element of the programme was a facilitated table-top exercise designed to test crisis procedures and co-ordination mechanisms in the event of a cyber incident. Through several phases of interactive discussions and decision-making, participants assessed how CBMs can be applied in practice to facilitate communication, reduce misunderstanding and maintain trust during regional cyber incidents. The exercise further highlighted the importance of timely information-sharing and collaboration between national authorities and private sector operators. 

The workshop also provided an overview of the current cyber threat landscape, highlighted effective models of public-private collaboration, and discussed the main barriers that hinder timely information-sharing. Participants exchanged national experiences, identified common challenges and outlined future plans to strengthen co-operations within their national cyber ecosystems. 

The event was organized under the OSCE extrabudgetary project “Activities and Customized Support for the Implementation of OSCE Cyber/ICT Security Confidence-Building Measures,” with financial support from Austria.