Abstract In 1998 the changes in Western Europe attracted worldwide attention. With the close of the curtain of the German
election, West European political situation tilts further to the left with eleven out of fifteen EU members governed by central-left parties. The Third Way theory prevails in many countries in Europe and draws extensive attention from the media. The economy maintains comparatively high growth momentum. The preparation of the circulation of the Euro was successfully completed. Remarkable progress has been made in common diplomacy and security policy, strengthening its position as a pole in the multi-polar world system.Great disturbance will not occur in the political situation in Western Europe in 1999. Stability, reform and
development will constitute the general development trend. The central-left political parties will continue to maintain its dominant position in the West European politics. Although economic growth will keep going, it will be lower than the previous year. The year of 1999 is the formal start of the Euro. Given the previous preparation work, a stable Euro can be ensured after its launching. With the acceleration of the European
integration, the EU will speed up its internal mechanism reforms in the new year. The targets of its foreign strategy are as follows: to continue to deepen economic integration so as to promote political integration among its member countries, to gradually realize common diplomacy and security policy, to strive for a true independent pole in political, economic and defense field.