VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – April 20, 2017) – Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:AVU)(FRANKFURT:8AM)(OTC PINK:AVPMF) is pleased to announce that it has closed the financing to raise $225,000 by way of a private placement of 2.5 million common shares at $0.09 per common share.

Avrupa now has 76,748,797 common shares issued and outstanding. No commissions or finder’s fees were paid for this financing. The common shares issued under this private placement are subject to a 4 month hold period which expires on August 21, 2017.

Insiders purchased a total of 840,000 common shares in the placement.

Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented exploration and development company focused on discovery, using a prospect generator model, of valuable mineral deposits in politically stable and prospective regions of Europe, including Portugal, Kosovo, and Germany.

The Company currently holds nine exploration licenses in three European countries, including six in Portugal covering 3,268 km², two in Kosovo covering 47 km², and one in Germany covering 307 km². Avrupa now has four active option and joint venture agreements, three in Portugal and one in Kosovo, including:

• The Alvito Option Agreement with OZ Minerals Limited covering one license in the Ossa Morena Zone in southern Portugal, for IOCG deposits;

• The Alvalade JV covering one license in the Iberian Pyrite Belt of southern Portugal, for Zn/Cu-rich massive sulfide deposits. The partner is currently in default under the terms of the JV agreement, and Avrupa is working on a route to consolidation of the program;

• The Covas JV, with Blackheath Resources, covering one license in northern Portugal, for intrusion-related W deposits; and

• Avrupa’s partner at the Slivovo Gold Project in Kosovo is funding the program, allowing Avrupa to dilute its ownership in the JV operating company Peshter Mining JSC. If Avrupa ownership goes below 10%, its interest in the project converts to a 2% NSR.

Avrupa is currently upgrading precious and base metal targets to JV-ready status in a variety of districts on their other licenses, with the idea of attracting potential partners to project-specific and/or regional exploration programs.

On behalf of the Board,

Paul W. Kuhn, President & Director

This news release was prepared by Company management, who take full responsibility for its content. Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, a Licensed Professional Geologist and a Registered Member of the Society of Mining Engineers, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has reviewed the technical disclosure in this release. Mr. Kuhn, the QP, has not only reviewed, but prepared and supervised the preparation or approval of the scientific and technical content in the news release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.