Several regional initiatives strengthen the rural areas but can't adjust the regional disparities sustainable. Therefore in the article is discussed the importance of regional initiatives for the development rural areas. There are described innovative social outcomes of the regional initiatives Leaders, Regionen Aktiv and the support programme Integrated Rural Development (ILE) such as rural networks and integrated approaches to rural development. Discussed are also intern and extern risks these initiatives are exposed to and by which the economical and demographical effects and the stability of the new structures are limited. In the end are drawn some conclusions for regional studies.