ECAT Tirana was founded in October 1995 on the Albanian National Environmental Agency initiative as an international co-operation project within the scope of EC Environmental Programme Life.

Partners involved in ECAT Tirana are:

• The National Environmental Agency
• The European Commission
• The German Ministry for Economic Co-operation
• The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Environmental Protection of the German land Thueringen, Germany
• Euronature, an German NGO
   

As mentioned in the Declaration of support issued by European Commission (EC):

In March 1993, the European Commission took the decision to establish the network of Environmental Centres for Administration and Technology (ECAT) and co-fund it during the initial stage. The aim of this action was to develop centres of excellence to promote sustainable development principles in Eastern Europe and Russia.

The ECAT network in Albania, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia ( St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad) is facilitating efficient developments to tackle environmental issues in co-operation with local legislative and executive authorities.

• Why was the ECAT concept formed?

The ECAT concept also derived from the search for a new style of technical assistance and co-operation in the field of environmental protection.

The common foundation of all ECATs is a staff comprised of Western and Eastern experts working in a team, as well as the development of human resources, the direct transfer of know-how, the promotion of administrative and technological methods for protecting the environment, and its function as a clearing house. The real challenge faced by the ECATs was to achieve a form of independence and autonomy after a start-up period of three to four years.

• The aims of ECAT are to:
  
  
• Assist local governmental and non-governmental organisations, as well as industries and educational institutions, in the development and implementation of projects, programmes of action, and policy instruments to improve the environment.
  
• Attract international assistance on environmental initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe.
  
• Facilitate the flow of environmental information between CEE Countries and EU Member States
  

Among others, the most important projects carried out so far or still going on by ECAT Tirana are:

• Cleaning Up and Management of the Beaches (PHARE project)

• Organisation of the Urban Waste Management in 6 Albanian Municipalities (LIFE project)

• Conservation and Wise Use of the Wetlands in the Mediterranean basin with focus on the Kune Vain lagoon (MedWet 2 LIFE project)

• Albania-Power Transmission and Distribution project: PCB Management Plan (World Bank project)

• Development of Health Care Waste Management for Tirana Hospitals (LIFE project)

• Effective Energy Efficiency Measures in the Buildings (LIFE, UNDP, EU Synergy Programme)

• Assessment of plant biodiversity and implementation of a seed bank ( ECAT, EURONATUR (Bon), Tirana Botanical Garden, Botanical Museum/Botanical Garden Berlin)

• Children from Integrated Community Services producing films on environmental issues affecting them directly (UNICEF).

• Publication of the Albanian Nature Guide (CIM)

Besides that, ECAT Tirana gained a lot of experience in organising successfully several workshops, seminars and training sessions within and outside the framework of the projects.

• Trainings, workshops, seminars

• Training of trainers on Urban Waste Management (senior staff from the 6 main municipalities of Albania, Nea, Ministry of Public Services and Transport)

• Local Workshops on Urban Waste Management

• Study tour of Urban Waste Management Facilities organised in Germany for 10 senior staff from the 6 main municipalities of Albania, NEA, and Ministry of Public Services and Transport.

• Study tour of Healthcare Waste Management organized in CEE countries, Prague (Czech Republic), St. Petersburg (Russia) for 4 senior staff of the Ministry of Health and directors of the main hospitals in Tirana.

• Workshop on Development of Priorities and New Structures in the Legal Framework Healthcare Waste Management (around 60 high official participants from different Ministries, University, Central and Local Administration, State Institutions, NGOs)

• National Wetlands Seminar(around 60 high official participants from different Ministries, University, Central and Local Administration, State Institutions, NGOs)

• EIA training workshops for the students of Forestry Faculty/ Agricultural University of Tirana

• Workshop on the Monitoring of Drinking Water Resources (around 30 high official participants from different Ministries, University, Central and Local Administration, State Institutions, NGOs)

• Workshop on Public participation in National Environmental Health Action Plan.

• Seminar on "New energy building's code - A real need for Albania"

• Workshop on the Public Awareness Raising and set up of Environmental Video Centre

• Workshop on the UNDP/GEF(Global Environmental Facility)/ SGP(Small Grants Programme) Stakeholders

• Workshop on the Planning and Management Administrative Procedures of EU-LIFE Third Countries

• National Seminar on Soil resources of Albania