An interesting idea but poorly thought out and much too slow. A 5% annual reduction in total fuel imports would inevitably focus on oil and coal imports, since these are easy for Europe to source elsewhere but of course equally easy for Russia to sell elsewhere. Hence to have any teeth at all the concept would have to separate gas from other fuels and license each separately. But even so the slow proposed rate of reduction would require a period of 15 years to cut imports from Russia in half. This slow and stately trend would presumably bring price growth of at least the same amount, leaving Russia completely unfazed and in fact better off in net terms (same revenue for less gas). Moreover it would provide both incentive and plenty of time for Russia to build its long-threatened pipelines to China. Let's not forget also that the degree of sacrifice we are talking about for Europe is almost ludicrously small. If gas imports from Russia are about 6% of total European fuel requirements, a 5% reduction per year amounts to only 0.3% less fuel overall. This is all Europe can do to dissuade a newly militaristic Russia from adventures in the region? Really?