In this paper, the intention is to analyze the role of the European Union (EU) in the projects which aim towards urban social sustainable development. The city of Malmö and its district of Fosie serve as an example of a concrete geo-political entity. The study presents facts concerning the EU urban policy and data regarding the EU´s influence in the area of urban social sustainability in Malmö and the district of Fosie. The data are analyzed with use of the concept of urban social sustainable development and the theory of actorness. The results disclose that by applying ‘soft politics’ based on partnership, encouragement and support, the EU established itself as an important local actor in the area of social sustainability, and suggest that the validity of this claim may be EU wide. The EU will likely continue to develop further as an actor in this field; it is the intention of the EU as well as the ambition of the city of Malmö.