Civil - Defence Cooperation in Cybersecurity: European Practices Discussed in Slovenia
On 19 May 2026, the COcyber project partner CCIS organised the event “Civil–Defence Cooperation in Cybersecurity: Lessons from Europe and Opportunities for Slovenia” in a hybrid format in Ljubljana and online, bringing together representatives from academia, defence, public administration, and industry for an interactive discussion on strengthening cooperation between civilian and defence cybersecurity communities.
The event supported COcyber’s broader mission to improve collaboration, mutual understanding, and operational coordination across Europe’s cybersecurity ecosystem. Through contributions from experts representing Estonia, Lithuania, Belgium, and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, participants explored national approaches to civil–defence cooperation, current challenges, and practical examples from Baltic, Scandinavian, and Western European countries.
Discussions focused on how differences in terminology, expectations, and operational cultures between civilian and defence environments can affect cooperation, while also identifying concrete opportunities to strengthen trust, knowledge exchange, and cross-sector collaboration in Slovenia.
A moderated discussion encouraged participants to reflect on current gaps, practical improvement pathways, and the importance of building long-term partnerships between stakeholders across sectors.
As highlighted by Urša Mlekuš, Consultant at the ICT Association of Slovenia (CCIS):
“One of the most valuable aspects of the COcyber event was the opportunity to gain practical insights into how different European countries approach cooperation between civilian and defence cybersecurity communities. The examples shared from the Baltic, Scandinavian, and Western European countries clearly demonstrated that effective collaboration relies not only on technology, but also on trust, common understanding, and continuous knowledge exchange between stakeholders. Events like this support the development of stronger partnerships, better preparedness, and a more coordinated cybersecurity ecosystem in Slovenia."
