CROATIAN EUROPEAN INTEGRATION MINISTER OFFICIALLY VISITS PORTUGAL

ZAGREB/LISBON, April 30 (Hina) - On the second day of her visit to Portugal, Croatian European Integration Minister Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic on Friday met the head of the Portuguese parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, Jaime Gamo, and informed him of Croatia's path towards the EU and the content of the European Commission's avis, official sources reported.#L# The Croatian minister informed the Portuguese official of efforts Croatia was making on its path to the EU and details from the EC's avis, spokeswoman for the Integration Ministry Ivana Grgic told Hina over the phone. The Portuguese official stressed the importance of Croatia's success in meeting criteria on the path to the EU. He particularly emphasised Croatia's role in the stabilisation of the region. According to the spokeswoman, Gamo expressed conviction Croatia would receive the candidate status in June and the date of the start of negotiations on full membership. The Portuguese official also expressed readiness to share Portugal's experience from the negotiation process, the spokeswoman said. Gama led the negotiations between Portugal and the European Union. He told the Croatian minister that some reform processes would be painful but that the ultimate result would be good. At the talks with Portuguese officials, minister Grabar Kitarovic was accompanied by Croatian Ambassador to Lisbon Zelimir Brala. (Hina) it