In the Directorial period he displayed more activity.

He was sent as French ambassador to Berlin, and plumed himself on having persuaded that Court to a neutrality favourable to France.

But it is clear that the neutrality of Prussia was the outcome of selfish considerations.

While Austria tried the hazards of war, her northern rival husbanded her resources, strengthened her position as the protectress of Northern Germany, and dextrously sought to attract the nebula of middle German States into her own sphere of influence.
From his task of tilting a balance which was already decided, Sieyes was recalled to Paris in May, 1799, by the news of his election to the place in the Directory vacated by Rewbell.

The other Directors had striven, but in vain, to prevent his election: they knew well that this impracticable theorist would speedily paralyze the Government; for, when previously elected Director in 1795, he had refused to serve, on the ground that the constitution was thoroughly bad.