The European Commission has its own channel on YouTube to spread messages about topics such as climate change and human rights. But the most viewed video clip features nudity, dim lighting and some heavy breathing.
EU officials said the 44-second clip of sex scenes showcases the strong emotions featured in European films, but some European Union lawmakers have questioned the sexual content.
The clip — titled "Film Lovers Will Love This!" — has been viewed more than 280,000 times, while the next most popular video on the EUTube channel launched last week — one on humanitarian aid — has fewer than 30,000 views.
Eighteen couples, both homosexual and heterosexual, are shown having sex in bedrooms, kitchens and restaurant bathrooms.
"Cheap, tawdry and tacky," was the reaction of Godfrey Bloom of Britain's euro-skeptic U.K. Independence Party, who described the clip as "soft porn" and a potential waste of taxpayers' money.
The Commission's foray onto the popular video-sharing Web site, he said, "was like watching an elderly relative trying to be cool: very embarrassing."
And EU lawmaker Maciej Giertych of Poland, from the conservative League of Polish Families, has accused the Commission of using "immoral methods" of promotion, according to the British Broadcasting Corp.
But Commission spokesman Martin Selmayr said the shots in the clip — drawn from award-winning films such as "Amelie" and "Bad Education" — highlighted Europe's tradition of rich cinema.
Selmayr said Tuesday that he had not received any complaints about the video, which was presented at the Berlin Film Festival in February as part of a four-clip media campaign. The other three highlight joy, sadness and friendship. All four short videos have been available since then on the Commission's Web site and YouTube.