Demonstrators have taken to the streets of Nice ahead of a European Union summit to demand more social justice.

Trade unionists and anti-globalisation activists -- mainly from France, Spain and Italy --staged the 'Eurodemo' to call for EU-wide social policies. Further protests are planned for the duration of the summit and organisers hope to place a human chain around the conference venue on Thursday when the EU leaders hold their first session of talks. Leaders of the 15 EU states are due to arrive in the heavily guarded city on Wednesday for the summit. The summit was intended to be a brisk two-day affair to wrap up a new treaty reforming EU institutions, but the French hosts have warned that it could extend well into, or even beyond, the weekend. The leaders are trying to agree on reforms to equip the EU for the addition of up to15 more nations, including many former Soviet bloc countries, over the next few years. At the 1997 Amsterdam summit, the leaders failed to agree on the key points on expansion. Under the leadership of the French, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, they are trying again. The leaders at Nice have to decide how far to cut back on national vetoes -- which allows one country's objections to scupper a planned measure -- in favour of qualified majority voting -- in which measures can be passed without unanimous agreement.