En række politikere, bl.a. kulturministrene fra Frankrig og Portugal, tilsluttede sig ordlyden af Berlin Call to Action, men vigtigst af alt gav EUs kultur-kommissær, Tibor Navracsics, tilsagn om at øge EUs kulturbudget med 25% til 1,85 mia Euro. Ligesom en række andre europæiske top-politikere ser kommisæren kulturarven, som en helt afgørende del af EUs indsatsområde i en tid præget af nationalisme og selvtilstrækkelighed. Kulturen hører derfor til i toppen af den europæiske agenda:
Of course, the European project has always been about culture. Because more than anything else, culture is what brings us together. Our diverse culture and cultural heritage enable us to learn about and understand each other. They help us accept our differences – and appreciate what we have in common. That is why culture and cultural heritage are so critical in building a better Europe for the future, together. A Europe that is a resilient community of communities. I am very proud that this unique power of culture is now once again widely recognised. Culture is back at the top of the European Union’s political agenda. We need to make sure it stays there – and the European Year of Cultural Heritage has an important role to play in this.
Han opfordrede medlemslandene til at støtte op om deres egen kultursektor for at understøtte indsatsen og understregede, at der ikke var nogen modsætning mellem et fokus på national og europæisk kulturarv:
Fundamentally, we must use this Year as a catalyst to keep culture and cultural heritage at the top of the European agenda. This is key if we are to harness their potential to drive development and, perhaps most importantly, to strengthen our European identity. An identity that does not threaten, but that complements and enriches our national, regional and local identities.