MANNHEIM, Germany, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Germany knows its existing economic stimulus plan may be insufficient but will not take any further steps until U.S. President-elect Barack Obama takes office, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday.
A package of measures the German government says is worth about 31 billion euros ($42.36 billion) is already due to come into effect in January, but Merkel has faced pressure from European Union peers and some in her own party to do more.
"We know that alone might not suffice," Merkel said of the first package in a speech in Mannheim in western Germany.
"If it's enough to launch a big (economic) programme in America when the new president takes office, it will also be right to put together a second programme in Germany at a similar time," she added.
Obama's inauguration is due on Jan. 20. (Writing by Paul Carrel)