In this paper the authors highlight the development possibility of rural areas in terms of sustainability. By its contents the sustainable development offers to local communities real and lasting solutions. In this sense for a community to be truly sustainable, it must adopt a holistic approach, taking into account the short, medium and long term environmental and economic sustainability of natural and cultural resources. We believe that a sustainable community among its objectives there must be included their major issues on environmental protection, poverty eradication, improvement of quality of life, developing and maintaining an effective and viable local economy, leading to a global vision on sustainable development of all sectors of the community. In this way the community has control over the development process and decisions and they develop and adopt them engaging the local sustainability. This community is characterized by an active social structure, groups, associations and institutions able to mobilize long-term common actions and to assume responsibility for this ongoing process of development. The prosperity of such local communities is insured as the population acts in collaboration and partnership, in order to improve the quality of life and it uses its own resources to meet their needs. In order to revitalize the rural economy, the sustainable community mobilizes its capacity to provide quality care, at a higher living standard for all residents, prevent pollution, and conserve natural resources and local resources increasing the efficiency of their use. The rural areas face particular challenges in terms of growth, jobs and sustainability in the future years. But they offer real opportunities by their potential for growth in new sectors, ensuring the conditions of rural recreation and tourism, attractiveness as a place to live and work and their role as a reservoir of natural resources and valuable landscapes. Agriculture and food sectors must use the opportunities offered by new approaches, technologies and innovations in order to meet market needs at both European and global level.