I think it was inevitable, the goal of the EU membership did not matter as much. I'm not that familiar with Turkish politics but I know that in a Muslim country, it's impossible to separate Islam from their society.
Probably inevitable but give Ataturk kudos for trying.
I’ve read two biographies of Ataturk. Interesting individual, Turkey under him was an authoritarian state. In its early days it resembled something like Mussolini’s Italy. He was an early admirer of Mussolini. (Even FDR said nice things about Benny the Moose early on!) He died young from drink which is ironic. There is a quote attributed to him, ‘that he wished his people had been Christian for then they would easier accept education and modernization’. There is a quote attributed to him disparaging Mohamed and Islam. Regarding religion Turkish views of course he was a devout Muslim, but non-Turkish biographers give documented evidence he was either an atheist or at best a deist.