Cyprus is situated in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, at the cross-roads of Europe, Africa and Asia. It enjoys a healthy and pleasant climate with dry summers and mild winters. Cyprus governmental structure is modeled on Western Democratic systems. It follows closely the United Kingdom legal system. Cyprus signed an Association Agreement with the European Economic Community in 1972, and on 4 July 1990 made a formal application for full membership of the EEC. During the Copenhagen European Council (12th - 13th December 2002) Cyprus officially confirmed the successful completion of the accession negotiations and was invited to join the European Union on 1st May 2004. The signing of the Accession Treaty for Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia took place in Athens on April 16th, 2003.