Some additional information from Airbus as reported by Flightglobal.
The airframer said the choice of alloy - designated 7449 - combined with a fastener interference-fitting process appeared to be generating the first type of crack in the feet. But a second type of crack - which EASA described as "more significant" - was also being created during the pull-down of wing skins, in the area of a butt-strap joint used between different lower skin panels.
In the region of rib 26 and stringer 21, larger-than-expected gaps - some 1.5-2mm rather than 0.5mm - between the sections involved in the pull-down had resulted in stresses being induced, leading eventually to cracking under the wear of normal airline operations.
Airbus executive vice-president for programmes Tom Williams said the interim fix being carried out on affected aircraft naturally relieved these stresses, and eliminated the problem.
"We have enough ribs and feet [to conduct the repairs]," he said. Williams added that a permanent solution would look at changing the alloy - although this would require thicker rib-feet and add some 89kg in weight - and amending the pull-down process.