UPDATE 2-EU to rule on Czech, Polish, French carbon plans

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BRUSSELS, March 22 (Reuters) - The European Commission will rule on Monday on the carbon emissions plans of France, Poland and the Czech Republic, it said on Thursday.

The plans are the cornerstone of the European Union's emissions trading scheme, the 27-country bloc's key tool for meeting commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions agreed under the Kyoto Protocol.

The Commission has demanded cuts to 12 of the 14 proposed emissions quotas it has ruled on so far for the second phase of the trading scheme from 2008-12.

It is cracking down after states set too lax emissions targets in the first phase.

Brussels may also rule on Finland's plan next week, and would probably demand cuts to its proposed quota, according to the country's Trade and Industry Ministry.

"It is a bit unclear as they will not tell us," said Taisto Turunen, head of the ministry's energy department.

"It is very probable the Commission will require some changes to Finland's plan, but specifically on which issues and how much we will not say, as it would reveal our negotiating position."

Turunen said possible changes would affect both the volumes in the plan and where the cuts were targeted.

(Additional reporting by Sami Torma in Helsinki)